Looking for fresh produce on a low income? Here’s how to shop farmers markets with SNAP
Shoppers who use benefits they receive through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, to purchase food may not know they can also use those dollars at community farmers’ markets to buy fresh, locally grown produce without breaking the bank.
But how does it work exactly?
Here’s a rundown of how the transaction works, how to find a farmers’ market near you and tips for making your SNAP dollars go even further.
What you can buy with SNAP benefits?
The following list comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture eligibility requirements:
Fruits and vegetables
Meat, poultry and fish
Dairy products
Breads and cereals
Other foods, such as snacks and non-alcoholic beverages
Seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat
What you can’t buy with SNAP benefits?
According to the USDA, households cannot use SNAP benefits to buy:
Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco
Vitamins, medicines and supplements. If an item has a Supplement Facts label, it is considered a supplement and is not eligible for SNAP purchase
Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from water and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store)
Hot meals
Any non-food items, like pet food, cleaning supplies, paper products and other household supplies, hygiene items and cosmetics
According to the National Council on Aging, which put together its own guide for senior shoppers, a good rule of thumb is to nix all non-food items, along with food not intended for people (like pet food), from your SNAP shopping list.
That said, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, nut, soy and oat milk are allowable dairy substitutes and gluten-free pasta qualifies under bread and cereal. You may even buy 100% apple sauce (considered fruit), eggs (poultry) or canned ravioli with tomato sauce (vegetable), according to NCOA.
How to use your SNAP benefits/EBT card at a farmers’ market
If you’re a SNAP recipient, this is where your Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card comes in. For those who don’t know, this is the card recipients use at the point-of-sale to access their SNAP benefits.
According to the national Farmers’ Market Coalition – a nonprofit trade and advocacy group – markets must be licensed by the Food and Nutrition Service within the USDA to accept EBT SNAP benefits.
The way it works, as described by the FMC, is SNAP users redeem their benefits by swiping their EBT card on a point-of-sale at the market to exchange for tokens or a paper receipt, which they then use to buy eligible items from vendors.
If you run a community farmers’ market and are interested in becoming licensed to accept these federal benefits, the FMC has an in-depth guide.
How to make your SNAP benefits go further at farmers’ markets
Kentucky’s Double Dollars program, made possible by a partnership with Bluegrass Farm to Table and Community Farm Alliance, allows shoppers to double their federal food and nutrition benefits at certain farmers’ markets.
This video from the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment offers a helpful guide, and more information, including participating locations, is available on the program’s website.
Which farmers’ markets in and around Lexington accept SNAP/EBT?
- The Lexington Farmers Market is one go-to option. More information is available on their website.
- Black Soil Kentucky, which strives to reconnect Black Kentuckians to their legacy and heritage in agriculture, opens its season in late May and accepts EBT.
- Elmwood Stock Farm in Scott County accepts EBT. You can purchase organic eggs, meats, fruits and vegetables on location there or order online for pickup at the Lexington Farmers Market. Elmwood also offers direct-to-door shipping, meaning you don’t even have to leave your home to shop locally.
Do you have a question about public assistance or other programs in Kentucky? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out the form below or email ask@herald-leader.com.
This story was originally published April 16, 2022 at 6:00 AM.