The Westside Farmers Market is one of many markets that participate in the NY Farmers Market EBT/ Food Stamp/ SNAP program.
The program is a partnership between the New York Farmers Market Federation, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.
How it works
When you arrive to the market, look for the information booth with signs that read “SNAP.” You can then use your EBT/Food Stamp/SNAP card to purchase as many $1 wooden tokens as you’d like — the tokens act as cash and should be spendable at most booths.
With the wooden tokens, you will be able to purchase fresh produce and other local products. According to the SNAP to Market website you can purchase the following items:
If you don’t use all your tokens, you can either keep them to use during another market visit, as they do not expire or go back to the information booth and refund them back on to your EBT/Food Stamp/SNAP card.
If you decide to keep them, remember that tokens are market specific and cannot be transferred between markets.
To find markets apart of the the NY Farmers Market EBT/ Food Stamp/ SNAP program, visit https://www.nyfarmersmarket.com/find-a-market.
EBT Doubling program at the Westside Farmers Market
This season at the Westside Farmers Market, it will be continuing its EBT Doubling program through the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets FreshConnect Checks program.
For every $2 in SNAP tokens you buy at the market, you’ll receive an additional $2 in FreshConnect checks — coupons issued as an expansion of the wooden token system.
“Shoppers using EBT can get double the value to spend at the market. It’s a huge help in making fresh, local food more accessible,” said Westside Farmers Market manager, Jessica Disalvo.
For more information about the FreshConnect Checks program, visit https://agriculture.ny.gov/operating-farmers-market.
— As a Rochester native, Justice Marbury entered the world of journalism to create work where voices like hers were heard—the voices of minority communities. Marbury covers small businesses, neighborhood concerns, and the interesting people who live in Rochester neighborhoods. As the 19th Ward reporter, she has helped implement community outreach ideas by asking what people in various communities want to read about themselves in addition to regular news. Contact her on Instagram @justice_marbury and by email at jmarbury@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Westside Farmers Market accepts SNAP benefits, offers double value with FreshConnect
Reporting by Justice Marbury, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
