Convenience stores and other small retailers who redeem food stamp benefits will need to carry more fruits and vegetables and other healthy food beginning next year.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture published a final regulation that will require retailers who redeem Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to offer a larger inventory and variety of healthy food options. In the past, a retailer could be authorized to participate in the program with a minimum inventory of 12 healthy food items.
Now, the number of required food items is expanded to a minimum of 84, according to the USDA. To be SNAP authorized retailers, stores must stock four categories of foods: fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat and breads/cereal. The new rule mandates that SNAP retailers offer seven varieties of fruits and vegetables (fresh or processed), with three units of each variety available. That compares with the old standard requirement of three varieties and one unit of each variety. The variety and new stocking requirements are identical for all four food categories.