Irin Rahman, New York — New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced Thursday that recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive 40% more in Health Bucks incentives for purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers markets and farm stands beginning January 2027. The daily maximum benefit under the Health Bucks program will increase from $10 to $14. The program provides $2 in Health Bucks for every $2 spent on fresh produce at participating markets across New York City.

The Mamdani administration expects to distribute nearly $2.3 million in Health Bucks to SNAP recipients in 2027. The increase is intended to help families afford nutritious food while supporting local farmers and market vendors.

“Every day, New Yorkers walk into a store hoping prices haven’t gone up again,” Mamdani said. He noted that rising food insecurity is forcing too many families to go without fruits and vegetables.

The mayor said the expanded program would make fresh produce more affordable for SNAP recipients while supporting local markets and farm stands that provide nutritious food to their communities.

Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga said fresh fruits and vegetables should fit within every family’s budget. She added that rising costs and food insecurity have made it increasingly difficult for many New Yorkers to access healthy food.

NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin said raising the daily Health Bucks limit to $14 would increase the purchasing power of SNAP recipients while supporting local farmers. He also highlighted the connection between diet and chronic diseases, including heart disease.

According to new research from the NYC Health Department, nearly eight in 10 adults at risk of food insecurity reported difficulty affording balanced meals. Eighteen percent had not eaten any fruits or vegetables the previous day, and nearly one-third had received food from emergency assistance services, including food pantries.

The Health Bucks program is funded through city resources and $5.7 million in new grant funding from the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, which supports initiatives encouraging SNAP recipients to purchase more fruits and vegetables.

In addition to matching spending at farmers markets and farm stands, the Health Department distributes Health Bucks through community and faith-based organizations. Residents may also receive the incentives for participating in nutrition education and other health-related activities.

The announcement is part of the Mamdani administration’s broader effort to make healthy, high-quality food more affordable and accessible throughout New York City. Earlier this year, Mamdani announced La Marqueta in East Harlem as the first identified location for the city’s municipal grocery store initiative. The administration plans to open one city-operated grocery store in each of the five boroughs by the end of the mayor’s first term.

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the Health Bucks SNAP incentive program. Since 2005, the NYC Health Department has distributed more than $20 million in Health Bucks.

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has warned against attempts to undermine social unity and create divisions in the United States, calling for collective efforts against forces of hatred and evil. “Evil forces have not stopped. Durga Puja has arrived with a resolve to stand united against the forces of evil,” Mamdani said.

He made the remarks Tuesday evening while addressing the closing ceremony of Durga Puja celebrations organized by the Bangladeshi community at Om Shakti Temple in Jackson Heights, Queens. The mayor was welcomed at the temple by its founder, Gouranga Kundu; temple committee president Swarup Saha; and general secretary Bhavatosh Pal. He was then presented with a traditional uttariya, a ceremonial shawl.

This year, Bangladeshi communities organized Durga Puja celebrations at 18 venues across New York City, including Times Square and locations in Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island. Mamdani said Goddess Durga symbolizes the destruction of evil and the triumph of good. Inspired by this belief, Bangladeshi Hindus gathered to celebrate the festival with hopes for peace and prosperity.

He also praised the contributions of Bangladeshi Hindus to the city’s multicultural identity, saying their role in making New York more vibrant and prosperous would be remembered. Other speakers at the event included attorney Ashok Karmakar, Professor Dwijen Bhattacharya, City Council Member Shekar Krishnan and one of the event’s organizers, Dinesh Majumdar.

Majumdar said events of this kind were essential to presenting Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of Bengali Hindus, to an international audience. He added that the growing popularity of Durga Puja celebrations at Times Square reflected this ambition.