Food stamp discounts for fruits, veggies

Several thousand low-income residents in western Massachusetts are being tapped for a program aimed at improving nutrition and fighting obesity.

The Boston Globe reports that food stamp recipients chosen for the program in Hampden County will be offered a 30-cent discount on every dollar they spend on fresh fruits and vegetables. Officials will then track the families for 15 months to see if the discounts help lead to healthier eating habits, and compare them with other food stamp recipients in the county who continue to pay full price for produce.

The $20 million federal initiative is expected to be announced on Thursday and could help lead to changes in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.