ST. GEORGE — Utah is among the 35 states that will be part of the new permanent summer grocery benefits program for children – known as Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer – which launches in summer 2024.
Through this U.S. Department of Agriculture program, states will provide families with $120 per eligible child for the summer to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets or other authorized retailers – similar to how SNAP benefits are used.
Besides the participating states, all five U.S. territories and four tribes plan to be the first to launch the new program. Participating tribes will provide a benefit of the same amount that can be used to buy food at WIC-authorized retailers.
The states, nations and territories taking part include American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Cherokee Nation, Chickasaw Nation, Colorado, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Connecticut, Delaware, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Osage Nation, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
“Summer grocery benefits are becoming a reality for many communities across the nation and for tens of millions of children who will receive the nutrition they need to grow, learn and thrive,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a press release. “We applaud all the leaders and partners who are stepping up to make the program’s inaugural year a success. Together, we’re making progress in closing the summer hunger gap and ensuring children are nourished and healthy year-round.”
The USDA estimates that, in total, the states, U.S. territories and tribes that have committed to launching the Summer EBT program in summer 2024 will serve close to 21 million children, providing a total of nearly $2.5 billion in grocery benefits. This is around 70% of the total population of children eligible for Summer EBT. The USDA expects additional states and tribes will provide Summer EBT in 2025, the news release said.
Rigorous evaluations of a multi-year demonstration project showed that providing Summer EBT reduced child hunger and improved diet quality. Summer grocery benefits decreased the number of kids with very low food security by about one-third and supported healthier diets featuring more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
The new, permanent Summer EBT program was enacted on a bipartisan basis by Congress just over a year ago.
This is the inaugural year of the program, meaning states and tribes that do not launch the program this summer will have future opportunities to opt in. The USDA’s goal is for Summer EBT to be available nationwide as soon as possible.
The department is providing extensive assistance, trainings, tools and more to the states, U.S. territories and tribes targeting a 2024 rollout, as well as to those planning for 2025 and beyond. Working with future implementers is a top priority.
Later this month, USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small will join state, U.S. territory and tribal leaders, and partners from across the country, in Baltimore to celebrate the positive difference this program will make for millions of children.
“No kid should have to spend their summer hungry, or without nutritious food,” Torres Small said. “Summer EBT is a giant step forward in meeting the needs of our nation’s children and families throughout the year, and especially in the summer months.”
Summer EBT is one of three key mechanisms that the USDA is now using to tackle child hunger during the summer months. Families are encouraged to participate in all summer nutrition programs available to them. Summer meal sites provide free meals to families across the country, and many rural communities now offer to-go or home-delivered summer meals to increase access to this vital nutrition support.
For more information, visit the following webpages:
- Summer EBT.
- Summer nutrition programs.
- Estimated number of eligible children and total Summer EBT benefit amounts.
- “Summer EBT – A Tested and Effective Strategy for Ending Summer Hunger” fact sheet.
The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service works to end hunger and improve food and nutrition security through a suite of 16 nutrition assistance programs, such as the school breakfast and lunch programs, WIC and SNAP. Together, these programs serve 1 in 4 Americans over the course of a year, promoting consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe and affordable food essentials for optimal health and well-being.
The Food and Nutrition Service also provides science-based nutrition recommendations through the co-development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The report “Leveraging the White House Conference to Promote and Elevate Nutrition Security: The Role of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service” highlights ways the agency will support the Biden-Harris Administration’s national strategy, released in conjunction with the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health in September 2022.
To learn more about the Food and Nutrition Service, visit fns.usda.gov and follow @USDANutrition.
To learn more, visit usda.gov.
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