Your Louisiana Purchase Card unlocks far more than the grocery aisle. In 2026, Louisiana Food Stamps recipients can access discounted admission at the Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium, and Audubon Insectarium in New Orleans; free admission at the LSU Museum of Art in Baton Rouge; and reduced admission at the Louisiana Children’s Museum, the Children’s Museum of Acadiana, the T.R.E.E. House Children’s Museum in Alexandria, and additional venues across the state.
Your Louisiana Purchase Card also qualifies you for half-price Amazon Prime, automatic produce bonus cash back through the Louisiana Carrot Initiative at participating Walmart stores, a dollar-for-dollar produce match through Greaux the Good at participating farmers markets statewide, Lifeline phone discounts, Summer EBT for children, and energy bill assistance.
This is the complete guide to every EBT discount available to Louisiana residents in 2026, organized by city and program.
Affiliate Links — If you sign up, we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
A Note on the Louisiana Purchase Card
Louisiana’s EBT card is officially called the Louisiana Purchase Card. If you receive SNAP (Food Stamps) benefits in Louisiana, your benefits are loaded onto your Louisiana Purchase Card each month. Louisiana sends out benefits between the 1st and the 14th of every month, based on the last digit of the head of household’s Social Security Number — for example, SSN ending in 1 receives benefits on the 1st, SSN ending in 5 on the 5th, and so on through the 14th. When museums, zoos, and farmers markets ask to see your “SNAP card” or “EBT card,” your Louisiana Purchase Card is what you present.
At most Louisiana venues, you show your Louisiana Purchase Card and a valid Louisiana state photo ID at the ticket window to access the discounted rate. The card is used only to verify SNAP enrollment — you pay any admission price separately with cash, debit, or credit card. Your Louisiana Purchase Card balance cannot be used to pay for admission.
Important: Several Louisiana venue EBT discounts are restricted to Louisiana residents only and require a Louisiana state-issued photo ID in addition to the card. These are noted clearly below.
Louisiana Purchase Card support: 1-888-997-1117 (24/7) Louisiana SNAP hotline: 1-888-524-3578 (1-888-LAHELPU), Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Affiliate Links — If you sign up, we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Louisiana SNAP Restrictions — Effective January 15, 2026
Louisiana was among the first states to implement new SNAP purchase restrictions under the USDA waiver program. Since January 15, 2026, Louisiana SNAP recipients can no longer use their Louisiana Purchase Card to buy soft drinks, energy drinks, or candy. Foods with a Nutrition Facts label that are otherwise healthy — meat, dairy, bread, cereals, fresh and frozen produce, juice, and similar items — remain fully eligible. These restrictions are already in effect on your Louisiana Purchase Card. For a current list of restricted and eligible food categories, contact the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) at 1-888-524-3578 or visit dcfs.la.gov.
Amazon Prime — Half Price for Louisiana Purchase Cardholders
Louisiana Food Stamps recipients qualify for Amazon Prime at $6.99 per month — less than half the standard $14.99 monthly rate. The membership includes free two-day shipping, Prime Video, Prime Music, Prime Reading, and the ability to shop SNAP-eligible groceries through Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods pickup and delivery in qualifying Louisiana ZIP codes.
Sign up for discounted Amazon Prime here — verify your SNAP enrollment by uploading a photo of your Louisiana Purchase Card or a recent benefit letter. A credit or debit card is required as a backup payment method. The $6.99 fee cannot be charged to your Louisiana Purchase Card balance. A free 30-day trial is available if you have never had Amazon Prime before.
Louisiana Carrot Initiative — Automatic Produce Cash Back at Walmart
The Louisiana Carrot Initiative is a state-run produce incentive program administered by the Louisiana Department of Health through the USDA’s Electronic Healthy Incentives Project (eHIP). It is one of the most practical EBT perks available to Louisiana SNAP recipients because it requires no tokens, no trips to a separate booth, and no advance sign-up — it works automatically at checkout.
How it works: When you use your Louisiana Purchase Card to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at a participating Walmart store, you automatically receive a 30-cent bonus for every dollar spent on fresh produce, credited directly back onto your Louisiana Purchase Card as usable SNAP benefits. The bonus is capped at $25 per month and is deposited back to your card as general SNAP benefits — meaning you can spend the bonus on any SNAP-eligible groceries at any store that accepts EBT, not just fresh produce and not just at Walmart.
As of February 2026, the Louisiana Carrot Initiative has expanded to Walmart stores in East Baton Rouge Parish and Orleans Parish, joining a growing network of participating parishes statewide. Earlier participating parishes include Ascension, LaSalle, Sabine, Tangipahoa, Webster, West Carroll, and others. Since the program’s April 2025 launch, Louisiana SNAP shoppers have received close to $900,000 in produce bonus benefits.
To find participating Walmart locations in your parish, visit dcfs.la/ehip or ask at your local Walmart customer service desk.
Greaux the Good — Dollar-for-Dollar Produce Match at Farmers Markets
Greaux the Good is Louisiana’s statewide nutrition incentive program for farmers markets, operated by Market Umbrella — the New Orleans nonprofit behind the Crescent City Farmers Market. Louisiana does not participate in the national Double Up Food Bucks network; Greaux the Good is Louisiana’s equivalent program.
How it works: Visit the orange Welcome Tent or information booth at any participating farmers market before you begin shopping. Tell the market staff how much SNAP you want to spend. Swipe your Louisiana Purchase Card for the amount you choose, and receive the same value in Greaux the Good Match tokens — dollar for dollar — to spend exclusively on fresh, locally grown Louisiana produce.
In 2026, Greaux the Good uses a Universal Currency system. Your Greaux the Good Match tokens can be redeemed at any participating farmers market across Louisiana — you are not locked to the specific market where you earned them. This means you can earn tokens at a mid-week market and redeem them at a weekend market on the other side of the city, or save them for a future visit to a different market entirely.
At the Crescent City Farmers Markets (Mid-City Thursday and City Park Sunday locations in New Orleans), the match is capped at $40 per visit — spend up to $40 in SNAP and receive up to $40 in Greaux the Good Match tokens. Both markets operate year-round and also accept Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) vouchers for seniors and WIC participants from June through November. At other Greaux the Good participating markets, the match cap may vary — check with market staff when you arrive.
Find all participating Greaux the Good farmers markets and farm stands at greauxthegoodla.org.
New Orleans — Audubon Zoo, Aquarium, and Insectarium
Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium, and Audubon Insectarium (New Orleans) — Louisiana SNAP participants with a valid Louisiana Purchase Card and a matching New Orleans/Orleans Parish government-issued photo ID receive $3 per ticket to any Audubon facility, for up to five guests total — as long as at least one of the five is an accompanying adult. Tickets must be purchased in person at the admission window. SNAP tickets are not available online. SNAP tickets cannot be used for Group reservations or school group visits.
This discount is restricted to Orleans Parish residents only. You must present a valid Orleans Parish photo ID or secondary documentation confirming Orleans Parish residency (utility bill, bank statement, lease agreement, recent paystub, or similar official document listing your name and Orleans Parish address). College and university students living in Orleans Parish while attending school may use a current school ID as proof of residency. SNAP cards from other Louisiana parishes or other states are not accepted for this discount.
The $3 SNAP rate does not apply during special events, holiday programming, or select premium dates throughout the year. Confirm current pricing and special event blackout dates at audubonnatureinstitute.org before visiting.
Orleans Parish Appreciation Days — Free Admission for All Orleans Parish Residents: On certain days each month, all Orleans Parish residents with a valid Orleans Parish photo ID receive free admission to one Audubon facility — for themselves and up to four additional guests — at no charge. Appreciation Days rotate each week among the Zoo, Aquarium, and Insectarium. Free Appreciation Day tickets must be requested at the admission window in person and cannot be reserved online. See the current 2026 Appreciation Days schedule at audubonnatureinstitute.org.
Audubon Museum Culture Pass via New Orleans Public Library: Orleans Parish library cardholders can check out a Culture Pass from any New Orleans Public Library branch — each pass is valid for up to five admissions to any Audubon facility on any day the venue is open. Reserve a pass online at nolalibrary.libcal.com/passes or by calling the library at 504-529-7323. Due to limited availability, walk-up redemption at the Audubon gate is based on availability only — advance reservation through the library is strongly recommended.
New Orleans — Louisiana Children’s Museum
Louisiana Children’s Museum (New Orleans) — $2 per person for up to four people, with a Louisiana Purchase Card and a Louisiana state-issued photo ID. This discount is restricted to Louisiana residents only — you must present both a Louisiana SNAP EBT card and a Louisiana state photo ID. Out-of-state EBT cards are not accepted.
The Louisiana Children’s Museum is located in a stunning new building in City Park in New Orleans, opened in 2019. The museum features a two-story indoor climbing and play structure, an outdoor nature play area and splash area, a child-size neighborhood streetscape, a science and tinkering studio, and dedicated spaces for infants and toddlers. One of the finest children’s museums in the Gulf South.
Baton Rouge — LSU Museum of Art
LSU Museum of Art (Baton Rouge) — Free general admission for the Louisiana Purchase Cardholder and up to three guests — four people total. Show your Louisiana Purchase Card and a valid photo ID at the ticket counter. The LSU Museum of Art showcases world-class touring exhibitions of art, sculpture, painting, and photography, alongside a permanent collection of more than 6,500 objects. The museum is located in the Shaw Center for the Arts in Baton Rouge, along the Mississippi River.
Lafayette — Children’s Museum of Acadiana
Children’s Museum of Acadiana (Lafayette) — $3 per person for up to six guests per Louisiana Purchase Card. The museum also offers half-price admission for active military, police, and firefighters. If you need admission for more than six guests, or if you want to visit for free, pick up a Museum Pass at any Lafayette Parish Public Library branch — each library pass provides free admission for multiple visitors. The Children’s Museum of Acadiana features hands-on interactive exhibits across multiple themed rooms for children of all ages. Located in downtown Lafayette.
Alexandria — T.R.E.E. House Children’s Museum
T.R.E.E. House Children’s Museum (Alexandria) — $2 per person for up to ten family members with a Louisiana Purchase Card. One of the most generous per-group EBT admissions in the state — up to 10 family members at the $2 rate. Exhibits include a Pin Screen room, Shadow Room, Bernoulli Blower, a Building Table, Levers and Pulleys exhibit, a bank exhibit, a sheriff’s car, a medical center, an eagle exhibit, and the KLAX Kid TV station. Located in Alexandria in central Louisiana.
Mandeville — Children’s Museum of St. Tammany
Children’s Museum of St. Tammany (Mandeville) — Discounted Museums for All admission with an EBT card. A vibrant interactive children’s museum on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain in Mandeville, featuring hands-on exhibits covering science, art, and the local culture of Louisiana. Verify the current EBT rate before visiting.
Southeastern Louisiana — Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum
Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum — Discounted Museums for All admission. Dedicated to preserving and presenting the maritime history of the Lake Pontchartrain basin and Louisiana’s coastal heritage — boat building, underwater robotics, lighthouses, and the ecology and culture of the lake. Verify the current EBT rate and location before visiting.
Statewide — Additional Museums for All Participants
Louisiana has Museums for All participants in multiple regions across the state, including the ICONS Museum — the only museum in the world dedicated exclusively to cultural icons — and additional children’s museums, history centers, and science venues. For a current searchable list of all participating Louisiana venues, visit museums4all.org. Most Louisiana Museums for All participants that do not specify a state residency requirement accept EBT cards from any state.
Disaster SNAP — Louisiana-Specific Emergency Food Assistance
Louisiana has a long history of hurricane, flood, and other disaster events. In the event of a federally declared disaster in Louisiana, the state operates Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP), which provides one-time emergency food assistance to households not currently enrolled in regular SNAP. If you already receive SNAP benefits, you are not eligible for D-SNAP but may receive an automatic supplement to your Louisiana Purchase Card without needing to apply. D-SNAP is activated parish by parish following a federal disaster declaration. For current D-SNAP status after any Louisiana disaster, contact DCFS at 1-888-524-3578 or visit dcfs.la.gov.
Phone Service — Lifeline
Louisiana Purchase Cardholders automatically qualify for the federal Lifeline program, which provides up to $9.25 per month off a monthly phone or internet bill. Many participating Lifeline providers in Louisiana offer unlimited talk and text plans for free or at very low cost for qualifying households. Some carriers include a free smartphone for new enrollees. Visit lifelinesupport.org to find participating Louisiana providers and apply.
Internet Service — Discounted Broadband Plans
SNAP enrollment qualifies Louisiana households for discounted home internet through several national providers. Comcast Xfinity Internet Essentials, AT&T Access, and other carriers offer reduced-cost plans to qualifying low-income customers in Louisiana. Contact your current or prospective internet provider and ask about income-based or SNAP-qualifying plans — your Louisiana Purchase Card is typically the primary qualifying credential.
Summer EBT — Louisiana SUN Bucks for Children
Louisiana participates in the SUN Bucks program, which provides $120 per eligible child per summer loaded onto an EBT card for grocery purchases when school meals are unavailable. Louisiana SNAP households with school-age children who receive free or reduced-price school meals are typically enrolled automatically. Keep the SUN Bucks card — it may be reloaded in future summers. For questions, contact DCFS at 1-888-524-3578 or visit dcfs.la.gov.
Free School Meals for Children
Louisiana SNAP households automatically qualify their school-age children for free school meals through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. Louisiana uses direct certification — you typically do not need to file a separate free and reduced meals application if your household already receives Food Stamps through DCFS.
Energy Bill Assistance — LIHEAP
Louisiana Purchase Cardholders automatically qualify for the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps pay heating and cooling costs. In Louisiana, LIHEAP is administered through the Louisiana Housing Corporation and local community action agencies. Funding is seasonal and limited — apply early in the heating or cooling season. Dial 211 or visit lahousing.org to find LIHEAP resources in your parish.
Walmart+ and Instacart+ — Discounted Delivery Memberships
Walmart+ is available to SNAP recipients for approximately 50% off the standard $12.95 monthly price — around $6.47 per month. Includes free grocery delivery on orders of $35 or more, free shipping on Walmart.com, and Paramount+ streaming. Walmart accepts Louisiana Purchase Card for online grocery pickup and delivery at participating Louisiana locations.
Instacart+ is available to EBT cardholders who have placed at least one SNAP order on Instacart within the past six months for $4.99 per month for the first year. Instacart accepts Louisiana Purchase Card for grocery orders at participating retailers including Rouses Markets, Winn-Dixie, Albertsons, Aldi, Costco, and others.
YMCA — Reduced Membership Rates
Many YMCA locations in Louisiana offer reduced or sliding-scale membership rates for SNAP recipients and low-income households. Contact your nearest Louisiana YMCA directly to ask about income-based membership pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What discounts can I get with a Louisiana Purchase Card?
Louisiana SNAP cardholders can access $3 admission at Audubon Zoo, Aquarium, and Insectarium for Orleans Parish SNAP residents (up to 5 people); free admission at the LSU Museum of Art (up to 4 people); $2 admission at the Louisiana Children’s Museum (up to 4 people, Louisiana residents only); $3 admission at the Children’s Museum of Acadiana (up to 6 people); $2 admission at the T.R.E.E. House Children’s Museum (up to 10 family members); and discounted admission at additional Museums for All participants statewide. Your Louisiana Purchase Card also qualifies you for half-price Amazon Prime ($6.99/month), automatic produce cash back through the Louisiana Carrot Initiative at participating Walmart stores, a dollar-for-dollar produce match through Greaux the Good at participating farmers markets, Lifeline phone discounts, SUN Bucks ($120 per eligible child), free school meals, and LIHEAP energy assistance.
Does the Audubon Zoo EBT discount apply to all Louisiana residents?
No. The Audubon $3 SNAP discount is restricted to Orleans Parish SNAP residents only. You must present a valid Orleans Parish government-issued photo ID along with your Louisiana Purchase Card. If your photo ID does not list an Orleans Parish address, you must provide secondary documentation like a utility bill or lease showing an Orleans Parish address. SNAP cards from other Louisiana parishes or other states are not accepted for the $3 rate. All Orleans Parish residents — regardless of income or SNAP status — also receive free Appreciation Day admission on a rotating monthly schedule.
What is the Louisiana Carrot Initiative?
The Louisiana Carrot Initiative is a state-run produce incentive program that automatically credits 30 cents back onto your Louisiana Purchase Card for every dollar you spend on fresh fruits and vegetables at participating Walmart stores in Louisiana. The bonus is capped at $25 per month, is credited back as general SNAP benefits, and can be spent on any SNAP-eligible food at any store — not just produce or Walmart. No sign-up is required. The program has expanded to East Baton Rouge and Orleans parishes as of February 2026. Find participating store locations at dcfs.la/ehip.
What is Greaux the Good and how does it work?
Greaux the Good is Louisiana’s farmers market produce incentive program, operated by Market Umbrella in New Orleans. It provides a dollar-for-dollar match — up to $40 per visit at Crescent City Farmers Market locations — on SNAP spending at participating farmers markets. Match tokens are Universal Currency, meaning you can earn them at one Louisiana market and redeem them at any other participating market statewide. Louisiana does not participate in the national Double Up Food Bucks network; Greaux the Good is the state’s equivalent. Find participating markets at greauxthegoodla.org.
Are there SNAP food restrictions in Louisiana?
Yes. Louisiana SNAP restrictions went into effect on January 15, 2026. Soft drinks, energy drinks, and candy can no longer be purchased with Louisiana Purchase Card benefits. Healthy foods including meat, dairy, bread, cereals, fresh and frozen produce, juice, and similar items remain fully eligible. For a current list of eligible and restricted foods, call the Louisiana SNAP hotline at 1-888-524-3578 or visit dcfs.la.gov.
Can I use my Louisiana Purchase Card at museums in other states?
Yes. Most Museums for All participants across the country accept EBT cards from any state. Your Louisiana Purchase Card is accepted at more than 1,600 Museums for All locations in all 50 states. Search the full directory at museums4all.org. The Audubon venues and Louisiana Children’s Museum are the main Louisiana exceptions — those require a Louisiana or Orleans Parish ID — but your card works freely at Museums for All venues in other states when you travel.
How do I get Amazon Prime at half price with my Louisiana Purchase Card?
Sign up at Amazon’s SNAP discount page and upload a photo of your Louisiana Purchase Card or a recent benefit letter to verify SNAP enrollment. The discounted rate is $6.99 per month. A credit or debit card is required as a backup payment method. A free 30-day trial is available for first-time Prime members. The $6.99 monthly fee cannot be charged to your Louisiana Purchase Card balance.
When does Louisiana deposit SNAP benefits onto the Louisiana Purchase Card?
Louisiana deposits SNAP benefits between the 1st and the 14th of every month, based on the last digit of the head of household’s Social Security Number. Benefits are posted on the same date every month regardless of weekends or holidays — if your deposit date falls on a Sunday, benefits are still available that day. Benefits are accessible by 5:00 a.m. the morning after they are posted. Check your current balance by calling Louisiana Purchase Card customer service at 1-888-997-1117 (24/7) or through the ebtEDGE app.
Bottom Line
Louisiana has three separate produce incentive programs layered on top of each other — the Greaux the Good match at farmers markets, the Carrot Initiative cash back at participating Walmart stores, and the FMNP senior and WIC voucher doubling at Crescent City Farmers Markets. The Carrot Initiative is the easiest to use because it requires nothing extra: just buy fresh produce at a participating Walmart with your Louisiana Purchase Card and the 30-cent-per-dollar bonus is automatically credited back to your card each month.
Half-price Amazon Prime is available immediately to any Louisiana Purchase Cardholder. Sign up here to start saving on shipping and groceries right away.
For the full list of stores that accept your Louisiana Purchase Card for groceries, see our guide to grocery stores that take EBT. To see everything SNAP covers beyond the basics, check our guide on surprising things you can buy with EBT. And to find out how much in Food Stamps you may qualify for, use our SNAP Eligibility Calculator.
Last updated: 2026 | Discount programs, admission rates, and eligibility requirements are subject to change. Verify current details with each venue or program before visiting. Louisiana SNAP (Food Stamps) is administered by the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Louisiana Purchase Card support: 1-888-997-1117 (24/7). Louisiana SNAP hotline: 1-888-524-3578.