#FarmerFridays: Using SNAP at Your Local Farmers' Market

As we tip-toe closer to the opening day of farmers' markets here in Cortland, we wanted to make sure that you had all the information you needed to make using your benefits at the market a snap! This post will give you the ins and outs of how you can your benefits card at the local market. So grab your SNAP card, a reusable bag or two, and get ready to meet a few of your local farmers!

WHEN YOU GET TO THE MARKET:

  1. Head to the table with the “Use Your Food Stamp (EBT) Card Here!” banner.

  2. Use your EBT/Food Stamp/SNAP card to purchase as many $1 wooden tokens as you’d like. These tokens act as cash within the market.

  3. Use your $1 tokens at any market booth that displays the “Food Stamp (EBT) Tokens Accepted Here” sign.

What You CAN Buy at Market With Your Tokens

  • Fruits and Vegetables

  • Plants that Grow Food (many are surprised to know this!)

  • Breads

  • Meat, Fish, Poultry

  • Dairy Products

  • Maple and Honey Products

  • Seeds and Plants that Produce Foods

  • Baked Goods: Wrapped, Labeled and Intended for Home Consumption

  • Jams, Sauces, Soups, Etc.

What You CANNOT Buy at Market With Your Tokens

  • Beer, Wine, or Liquor

  • Tobacco Products

  • Nonfood Items

  • Food Meant to be Eaten On-Site

  • Hot Foods

  • Vitamins and Medicines

WHEN YOU LEAVE THE MARKET:

  • Jot down any vendors you particularly liked so that you can make time to visit their booth on your next visit.

  • If you don’t use all of your market tokens, that’s okay. You can keep your unused tokens for the next time you shop the market; tokens do not expire. Unused tokens may be exchanged at the token booth for a refund back onto your EBT/Food Stamp/SNAP card.

  • Tokens ARE market-specific and cannot be transferred between markets. Each token is labeled with the particular market it was distributed from.                                               

WHY GOING TO YOUR LOCAL MARKET MATTERS:

Some of the freshest, most wholesome food – direct from local farms – is available at farmers markets!

  • Vendors at farmers markets are eager to give complimentary recipe and prep tips to shoppers

  • Farmers markets promote a sense of community; visitors come from diverse cultures and varied socioeconomic backgrounds

  • Children are welcome at NY farmers markets; a market trip becomes a fun family outing

Still feeling a bit unsure on how to use your SNAP benefits at the market? Watch this video to see how it all works! 

*Information about using SNAP benefits at local farmers' markets was gathered from www.snaptomarket.com.

Seven Valleys Health Coalition#farmerfridays