Heritage Grocers Group (HGG) is joining Texas Health Resources in its efforts to make fresh produce more affordable for area families.
HGG is working with Texas Health to offer Double Up Food Bucks Texas benefits to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients at eight of its North Texas El Rancho stores. El Rancho’s entry into the program brings the total number of grocery stores and farmers markets accepting Double Up Texas benefits in North Texas to 25.
Double Up Texas is led statewide by Sustainable Food Center and carried out regionally by Texas Health Community Hope, Texas Health’s approach to promoting healthier futures through a broad range of impactful initiatives, investments and collaborations.
The program allows shoppers receiving SNAP benefits to double their purchasing dollars when buying fresh fruits and vegetables at participating grocers and farmers markets by either matching or discounting fresh produce purchases. This work is supported by the Double Up Food Bucks Texas program, project award No. 2024-70415-43711, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
As an introductory offer through Aug. 31, anyone using a Lone Star Card at a participating El Rancho store will automatically receive 50 percent off their fresh produce purchase, up to $10 per day per transaction. After that date, the offer will be 50 percent off, up to $5 per day per transaction.
“We’re proud to partner with Texas Health to expand the Double Up Food Bucks program in North Texas,” said Adam Salgado, president and executive director for the Heritage Grocers Group Giving Foundation.
“Making benefits available to our customers means more nutritious food on the table for families who need it most. But the impact goes beyond individual households. This partnership is a commitment to food security, to public health and to the well-being of the communities we serve every day.”
The eight El Rancho locations participating in the Double Up Texas program are:
- 655 W. Illinois Ave. in Dallas;
- 701 S. Stemmons Freeway in Lewisville;
- 10020 Marsh Lane in Dallas;
- 4812 South Freeway in Fort Worth;
- 821 N. McDonald St. in McKinney;
- 2506 S. Belt Line Road in Grand Prairie
- 3460 W. Walnut St. in Garland; and
- 3535 N. Belt Line Road in Irving.
Double Up Texas benefits also are available at three additional El Rancho locations – two in Houston and one in Odessa.
“El Rancho has a well-established and trusted local presence,” said Matt Dufrene, VP for Texas Health Resources. “El Rancho’s participation in this important initiative means more local families can now access Double Up Texas benefits, and that’s a win for the well-being of our entire community.”
Double Up Texas locations are selected based on a variety of factors, including findings from the Texas Health Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA); the geographic area served by vendors willing and able to implement the Double Up Texas program; and the ability to fund new locations.
Texas Health continues to seek out funding partners and expand Double Up Texas by working with area merchants to accept and promote benefits. Plans are in place to add additional Double Up locations in the coming year.
A full list of locations for Double Up Texas and Texas Health’s other healthy food access programs can be found at this link.
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