It has now been three months since Pennsylvania lawmakers missed the June 30 deadline to pass the state budget, leaving Pennsylvania as the only state in the nation without a budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year. While the delay has created challenges, it has also left room for legislators to take action on meaningful proposals that would have an immediate impact on families, farmers, and communities across the Commonwealth.
One opportunity still on the table is the PA Food Bucks bill (House Bill 1096). Run by The Food Trust, the Pennsylvania Food Bucks program is one of the state’s largest nutrition incentive initiatives. It helps SNAP recipients stretch their food dollars by providing matching funds to purchase more fresh fruits and vegetables at grocery stores and farmers’ markets. That means families can afford more healthy foods, while local farmers gain new customers and additional sales. With added funding, the program could expand to serve even more SNAP shoppers – including here in Adams County.
This is not an experiment – it’s a proven strategy. Nutrition incentive programs like Food Bucks have already been successful in more than two dozen states, including Arizona, California, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Oklahoma. These programs have been shown to reduce chronic disease, lower healthcare costs, strengthen small farms, and make fresh, local produce accessible to more families. It’s one of those rare win-win-win scenarios.
Right now, the proposed budget could include $2 million in statewide funding for PA Food Bucks, but legislators need to hear from their constituents before they make their final decisions. This is where you come in.
We are asking our community to call our state representatives today and let them know why nutrition incentives matter. Share if you’ve used Food Bucks to buy fresh produce, if you’ve seen the benefits at your local farmers market, or simply why you believe every Pennsylvanian should have access to healthy food. Even if you’ve never used SNAP personally, your voice as a constituent still carries weight.
How You Can Help
- Call Rep. Dan Moul’s office: repmoul.com
- Call Rep. Torren Ecker’s office: repecker.com
- Call Sen. Doug Mastriano’s office: senatormastriano.com
- If these are not your representatives, find yours here: Find Your Legislator
- You can also refer to this one-page infographic for more information and talking points about the PA Food Bucks bill
Phone calls are more effective than emails – yes, even leaving a voicemail after office hours makes a big difference. But if you can’t make a call, you can send a message through this online action tool.
Pennsylvania’s budget may still be undecided, but there is still time to make sure the PA Food Bucks program is part of it. Let’s seize this chance to strengthen families, support farmers, and build a healthier community.
Reza Djalal is the Market Manager/Program Director for the Adams County Farmers Market. You can reach him at: manager@acfarmersmarkets.org, or learn more about the farmers market at: www.acfarmersmarkets.org.