Louisiana Expands ‘Carrot Initiative’ to Walmart in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Boosting SNAP Access to Fresh Produce
The Louisiana Department of Health, which manages the initiative, calls it the Louisiana Carrot Initiative.
BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana is broadening a program designed to boost access to fresh fruits and vegetables for residents receiving public food assistance, now including Walmart stores in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
Under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), enrollees can earn up to $25 extra each month when purchasing fresh produce at participating Walmart locations. The incentive gives recipients 30 cents back for every dollar spent on fruits and vegetables, with the additional funds automatically added to their SNAP accounts and usable at any SNAP-authorized retailer.
The expansion adds East Baton Rouge and Orleans parishes to the program, joining 11 other parishes, including Ascension, Calcasieu, Jackson, Lafayette, LaSalle, Sabine, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Rapides, Webster, and West Carroll.
The Louisiana Department of Health, which manages the initiative, calls it the Louisiana Carrot Initiative. Officials say the expansion will make the program accessible to approximately 135,000 more SNAP recipients, significantly increasing the availability of healthy food options in the state’s two largest urban centers.
Since its launch in April 2025, the program has helped SNAP recipients redeem an additional $884,000 in benefits through the produce incentive.
State health officials note that the initiative not only encourages healthier eating habits but also supports local food retailers participating in the program.
