How to use SNAP/EBT at a farmers market
Many farmers markets accept SNAP (food stamp) benefits, but how it works differs from market to market. Here is the usual routine, plus the questions worth asking before you go.
Step 1: Check that the market accepts EBT
Not every market does. In the USDA’s directory, about 14% of listed markets say they accept SNAP/EBT. That figure may be low because listings are self-reported, so check the market’s own page or call ahead. You can find ones near you through our state-by-state SNAP/EBT lists or see the numbers by state.
Step 2: Find out how it works there
Markets usually handle EBT in one of two ways:
- A central booth. You swipe your EBT card at the market’s information booth and get tokens, paper scrip or vouchers, which you then spend with vendors who take them.
- Vendor card terminals. Some or all vendors have their own machines and take your EBT card directly. In the USDA directory, 193 markets list this “individual POS” setup.
Many markets use both. If you’re not sure which applies, the info booth can tell you.
Step 3: Know what you can buy
SNAP generally covers food you take home to prepare, such as fruits, vegetables, bread, dairy, meat and fish, and also seeds and plants that produce food. It generally does not cover hot prepared food, alcohol or non-food items. Rules can vary, so ask if you’re unsure.
Step 4: Ask about matching programs
Some markets double or add to what you spend on fresh produce. Names vary: in the USDA directory, 81 markets list “Market Bucks” and others use different program names. Ask at the info booth whether a match is available, whether there’s a daily limit, and what it can be spent on.
Step 5: Ask about change and leftovers
Rules for tokens and unused vouchers are set by each market. Ask whether they expire, whether vendors can give change, and whether leftovers carry over to another visit.
WIC and seniors’ coupons are separate
WIC and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program issue their own coupons or vouchers, which are different from SNAP. The directory lists 754 markets that take WIC and 742 that take Senior FMNP, again as reported by the markets. They have their own sign-up process through your state or local agency, so SNAP at the market won’t cover them.
Before you go: a quick checklist
- Bring your EBT card and know your PIN.
- Confirm hours and that the market is open this season.
- Ask where to swipe and what vendors take it.
- Ask whether a matching program is running.
Listings change and some are out of date, so a quick call or a look at the market’s own page is worth it. Start from the state list.