GALLUPVILLE — Up until now, in the nearby surrounding area, the Schenectady Farmers Market has been one of the few places that SNAP recipients can take advantage of the Double Up Food Bucks New York program. The initiative provides a dollar-for-dollar match of up to $50 per day for qualifying purchases made with SNAP benefits, meaning a customer spending $50 on eligible fresh foods and plants using their EBT card receives another $50 in benefits, turning $50 into as much as $100 worth of nutritious food and garden products.
Hillbilly Heaven Farm Store, located at 124 Murphy Road near the Gas Up site, is the first location in Schoharie County approved to participate in the program, helping SNAP and EBT recipients stretch their grocery dollars further when purchasing eligible fruits, vegetables, herbs, and seedlings.
With this program, healthy local food is becoming more accessible in Schoharie County. Angela Knobelauch emphasized the significance of the community and the importance of getting fresh nutritious food to everyone regardless of income.
"I think it's very important that" people should understand the program, Knobelauch said, noting that supporting local families and local agriculture go hand in hand. “We’ve always believed that everyone should have access to good food, whether that means bringing home fresh produce for dinner or growing tomatoes and herbs on a windowsill.”
Under the system, consumers use a SNAP or EBT card to purchase eligible fruits, vegetables, herbs, or seedlings to receive the matching benefit of up to $50 per day. The process allows shoppers to stretch food budgets while supporting local agriculture, enabling them to grow food at home or bring more fresh options to the dinner table.
Known for its 24/7 self-serve farm store model, Hillbilly Heaven offers locally raised meats, dairy products, eggs, baked goods, and products sourced from area farms and producers. Expanding into the Double Up Food Bucks initiative allows the farm store to increase access to fresh foods while encouraging more residents to take advantage of benefits already available to them. The program also supports small farms and local food systems by keeping food dollars circulating within rural communities.
Store management stated that becoming the county’s first Double Up Food Bucks location will hopefully encourage more families to utilize SNAP benefits for fresh foods and inspire additional local businesses to participate in programs aimed at reducing food insecurity. This achievement marks a new milestone for Hillbilly Heaven and for increasing fresh food accessibility throughout Schoharie County.
