Walmart stores offer online shopping with food stamps - WatertownDailyTimes.com

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Walmart shoppers in upstate New York can now use food stamps when shopping online for groceries.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service announced a two-year pilot program Thursday that will allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants in New York to use their electronic benefit transfer cards to purchase groceries online. Walmart, which launched its online grocery pickup service at select locations last fall, integrated the new program into its upstate New York outlets, while Amazon launched the program for its consumers in New York City, according to the USDA.

Walmart did not return a request for comment.

“People who receive SNAP benefits should have the opportunity to shop for food the same way more and more Americans shop for food — by ordering and paying for groceries online,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture George E. “Sonny” Perdue III in a statement.

The 2014 Farm Bill created the program by requiring the USDA to evaluate its feasibility and ensure the safe and secure processing of transactions with food stamps before launching it nationwide.

According to the USDA, six other retailers will soon participate in the program, including ShopRite, which is expected to launch the service in its New York City market this week, and provide it to shoppers to other ares in the state, New Jersey, Maryland, Alabama, Iowa, Nebraska, Oregon and Washington.

“We look forward to monitoring how these pilots increase food access and customer service to those we serve, specifically those who may experience challenges in visiting brick and mortar stores,” Mr. Perdue said.

Walmart introduced its online grocery pickup service to its Watertown store in November, then later offered the service at its Evans Mills location.

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