Press Release  Local Agawam Supermarket Joins Massachusetts’ SNAP Online Purchasing Program

Boston — Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced that Massachusetts residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits can now use their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) SNAP benefits to buy groceries online from Geissler's Supermarket, a small local business located in Agawam Massachusetts. Individuals and families can shop online at https://www.geisslers.com/. Similar to using SNAP benefits to purchase food in a store, benefits can be used to buy SNAP-eligible foods online, including fresh produce, frozen foods, dairy and eggs.

Geissler's Supermarket is the twelfth retailer in the Commonwealth to accept EBT SNAP online, joining BJ’s, Daily Table, Stop & Shop, Walmart and Amazon, as well as ALDI, Hannaford, McKinnon’s Supermarket, Price Chopper, Price Rite, Stop & Shop and Wegmans via Instacart. Across all eligible retailers, residents have spent nearly $176 million in SNAP benefits to-date buying groceries online. For more information on the Massachusetts program, visit www.Mass.gov/SNAPOnline.

“SNAP online purchasing is one of several tools the Administration has utilized, alongside the continuation of SNAP Emergency Allotments and Pandemic EBT (P-EBT), to combat food insecurity for Massachusetts individuals and families,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders. “The addition of more local retailers in the program will not only help expand safe shopping options for households who utilize SNAP to help buy culturally accessible food, but also support our local businesses and communities.”

“SNAP remains an important tool to help fight food insecurity by putting money directly into the hands of more than 600,000 households and supporting our local communities, retailers and their employees,” said Department of Transitional Assistance Acting Commissioner Mary Sheehan. “Expanding approved online retailers promotes equity and safety for our residents receiving SNAP, allowing low-income households access to the same purchasing choices as other shoppers.”

“As a local family-owned retailer, we serve our communities with the best in local and fresh products every day. We are excited to finally make all these great products available online regardless of preferred payment method. Geissler’s SNAP customers now have the full ability to shop instore and online, support their local family-owned retailer and purchase the best locally made items and the freshest quality foods in the way most convenient for their lifestyle,” said Robert Rybick, President CEO Geissler’s Supermarket Inc.

Geissler’s Supermarkets started in 1923 with A.F. Geissler delivering groceries to the small village of Broad Brook in the town of East Windsor, Connecticut. The company is now owned and operated by the 4th  generation, the great grandchildren of A.F. Geissler. Geissler’s has butchers, who cut meat fresh and grind hamburger meat daily. Geissler’s also partners with local farms and local producers from Connecticut, Massachusetts and New England.

SNAP benefits cannot be used to pay for any added fees, like delivery fees. Economic assistance received through DTA, which include Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children (EAEDC), cannot be used to purchase items online at this time. The USDA approves all retailers for participation in this program. Interested retailers can visit: www.FNS.USDA.gov/SNAP.

Residents can check their SNAP eligibility and apply online at www.DTAConnect.com or on the DTA Assistance Line at (877) 382-2363 (press 7). SNAP is not considered in a public charge test. If one is not a US citizen or eligible immigrant, it is safe for them to get SNAP for an eligible family member (like a US citizen child). Currently, households are temporarily receiving increased SNAP benefit amounts and it is now easier than ever to apply.

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