The Covid-19 pandemic increased e-commerce by 32.4% in 2020 and 39% in 2021. As such, North Carolina’ Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program began expanding its online reach for electronic benefit transfer (EBT) purchases to help people efficiently shop from home.
The state became one of the first of 10 to allow online purchases via FNS during the first few months of the pandemic. The online expansion encourages safe food purchases that help prevent spread of Covid-19 and promote social distancing. It also is beneficial for families that struggle with transportation or mobility barriers, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services noted in a release.
The state announced this week it increased EBT online retailers from seven to 11, adding four more grocery stores to the lineup. Authorized retailers across the state now include:
- Aldi
- Amazon
- BJ’s Wholesale Club
- Carlie C’s
- Compare Foods Clayton (new)
- Deep Roots Market (new)
- Earth Fare (newly participating)
- Food Lion
- Piggly Wiggly of Kinston, N.C. (HWY 258 N) (new)
- Publix
- Walmart
Only food items are eligible for EBT purchase; service and delivery charges will not be covered by the benefits either. Additional charges for any non-food purchases will be the responsibility of the FNS participant, to be covered by debit or credit card.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture approves which retailers are allowed to participate in the FNS online purchasing program. Retailers can find out more information by heading to the USDA website.
Additional info about FNS can be found at www.ncdhhs.gov/FNS.
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