BOSTON, MA – Members of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joined with Daily Table, a local non-profit independent grocery store, at its Roxbury location on Wednesday, October 30 to highlight some of the successful strategies being implemented to tackle the issue of food insecurity in Massachusetts, and the need for local, state, and federal support to ensure families have access to quality healthy, affordable, and delicious food. 

“I am so grateful for all the work that Daily Table does to ensure that all Massachusetts residents have access to food that is nutritious and attainable,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Today we are celebrating their great accomplishments, while also acknowledging the need for support in order to continue fighting against food insecurity in our communities. It is vital that we work together on all levels of government to protect and build better futures for our residents.”

"Food security is a fundamental human right, and I am so grateful for the work that organizations like The Daily Table have been doing to stand in the gap and help our families access nutritious, low-cost groceries," said Congresswoman Pressley. "It was a joy to join Congressman McGovern, Mayor Wu, and our state and local colleagues to highlight this life-saving work and underscore our commitment to investing in these programs at every level of government. With Republicans and Project 2025 threatening to gut federal funding for essential programs that help keep our families fed, we must fight back and continue our collective work to eradicate hunger in Massachusetts and across the country."

"Food is a basic human right, and no one in Massachusetts—or anywhere—should struggle to put a fresh, nutritious meal on the table,” said Congressman Jim McGovern. “Daily Table and the Double Up Food Bucks program (called GusNIP at the federal level) are making real strides to improve food access, implementing key pillars of the Biden-Harris National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health to ensure that every American can eat a delicious, healthy meal every day. These programs are foundational for strong families, and we need to make sure they are funded, supported, and sustained at every level. I’m proud to stand with Daily Table, Mayor Wu, and Rep. Pressley as we fight for food justice in our neighborhoods and across America.”

The elected leaders used the event as an opportunity to share their support for the Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) program, which gives SNAP customers 50% off fresh fruits and vegetables at Daily Table. The program has been temporarily paused at Daily Table’s three Boston locations and Salem location since September 30 due to funding challenges, affecting food access for thousands of households in Massachusetts. 

“Every day, Daily Table is working to address food insecurity by providing affordable, nutritious food to underserved communities, but we can’t do it alone,” said Daily Table CEO Sasha Purpura. “By leveraging critical federal and state resources we can ensure we are meeting the very real need in the communities we serve and giving families the dignity they deserve to access the food that they want at a price that is affordable.” 

The Double Up Food Bucks program has been able to continue with a daily incentive cap at Daily Table’s Cambridge location with funding support from the City of Cambridge. The City of Boston’s Office of Food Justice has been working with Daily Table and the USDA to ensure the discount can resume at the three Boston stores as soon as Daily Table’s current USDA grant cycle is complete. Daily Table also hopes to relaunch Double Up Food Bucks at their Salem location with the help of individual donations. Historically funded by the USDA with additional support from the City of Cambridge and City of Boston, this program has made it possible for thousands of families to access fresh, healthy food every day. 

To help bring back Double Up Food Bucks at Daily Table’s three Boston locations and Salem location, donate here.

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About Daily Table

Daily Table is a non-profit organization operating five grocery retail stores in the Boston area: Cambridge, Dorchester, Mattapan, Roxbury, and Salem. They are on a mission to provide affordable and nutritious foods to communities where it might not otherwise be available. Daily Table was founded by Doug Rauch, former president of Trader Joe’s, in 2015. www.dailytable.org