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GET FRESH, LOCAL FOOD AT THE FARMERS’ MARKET

Farmers’ markets are family-friendly, open-air marketplaces where California farmers bring fresh, locally-grown produce and other foods to sell directly to customers. Farmers’ markets feature fruits, vegetables, nuts, baked goods, jams and preserves, juices, olive oils, meat, cheese, prepared foods, nursery plants, flowers, and more.

Why shop at the farmers’ market?

  • Most farms that sell at farmers’ markets incorporate farming practices that improve soil and ecosystem health, which benefits animals, insects and humans alike.
  • At farmers’ markets, farmers head home with upwards of 90 cents of every dollar spent by customers, as opposed to only 15 cents of every dollar that shoppers spend at traditional food outlets.
  • Unlike big groceries, products from your farmers’ market go through just a few hands—the farmers’, farmworkers’ and yours—before reaching your plate. This shorter supply chain directly benefits farmers as opposed to large corporations, keeps food fresher, and is important for disaster preparedness. By shopping at the farmers’ market you are investing in regional farms to supply your food now and in the future.

Farmers’ markets are family-friendly, open-air marketplaces where California farmers bring fresh, locally-grown produce and other foods to sell directly to customers. Farmers’ markets feature fruits, vegetables, nuts, baked goods, jams and preserves, juices, olive oils, meat, cheese, prepared foods, nursery plants, flowers, and more.

MORE INFORMATION ON

CalFresh EBT

Market Match

Market Match – California Fruit and Vegetable EBT Pilot

Women, Infants, Children (WIC) & Seniors

Cash/Credit/Debit Cards

CalFresh EBT

Recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or CalFresh in California, are issued an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card that can be swiped at the point of sale to purchase eligible foods.

How do I use my CalFresh EBT card at the farmers’ market?

  1. Find a participating market on the map (green and brown pins).
  2. Bring your EBT card to the market’s information booth.
  3. Swipe your card for the amount of your choice and receive that amount of EBT tokens/vouchers.
  4. Spend your tokens/vouchers on eligible foods (all food except hot food/drinks) at the market.

Some farmers’ markets offer extra money to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables through Market Match–learn more in the section below.

Are you a Market Manager who wants to offer CalFresh EBT at your market? We can help!

If you are an individual interested in learning more about CalFresh or finding out if you’re eligible to receive CalFresh benefits, call the CalFresh Benefits Helpline at 1-877-847-3663 or visit www.getcalfresh.org.

Market Match

The Market Match program allows some farmers’ markets to offer additional money to CalFresh EBT cardholders (and sometimes those receiving WIC, Senior FMNP, and SSI benefits – check with the information booth for more details) to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. See participating sites (green pins on the map) for details.

How does it work at the market?

Así es cómo funciona | Và đây là cách sử dụng | 運作方式是

Market Match is Changing at Select Farmers’ Markets!

A project in partnership with the California Department of Social Services

People receiving CalFresh benefits can now earn an extra $60 on their EBT card every month!!

We’re launching the California Fruit & Vegetable EBT Pilot for a limited time at select Farmers’ Markets across the State. It’s similar to the current Market Match with a few changes.

Understand How the Pilot Works at the Farmers’ Markets in 3 Easy Steps:

  1. Earn a dollar-for-dollar match when you spend CalFresh benefits on fruits & vegetables.
  2. Get a maximum of $60 extra dollars per month.
  3. Spend it immediately, or keep it on your card to use later, on ANY CalFresh eligible food item like bread, dairy, meat, fruits, veggies & more.

Participating Farmers’ Markets Include:

  • Sunrise Station Farmers’ Market, Rancho Cordova
  • Country Club Plaza Farmers’ Market, Sacramento
  • Downtown Napa Farmers’ Market
  • Adams Vermont Farmers’ Market, Los Angeles
  • Atwater Village Farmers’ Market, Los Angeles
  • Rialto Farmers’ Market

Find these Pilot-site Farmers’ Markets, as well as others offering Market Match, using the Farmers’ Market Finder. Enter the market name, city, or zip code to get started!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  1. How are the extra benefits added to my EBT card at the farmers’ market? Visit the information booth at the Farmers’ Market, and tell them how much you’d like to spend on fruits and vegetables. That amount will be automatically matched through the Point of Sale device. The market staff will give you special tokens or vouchers, good for fruits and vegetables only, to spend in the market. Your earned CalFresh benefits can be redeemed in the same transaction to use at the market, or you can keep the extra benefits on your EBT card to use later.
  2. What happens if I don’t spend all my tokens/vouchers?
    Your tokens/vouchers never expire, and if you don’t spend them all immediately, you can come back and spend them next week, or we can refund the CalFresh to your EBT card. We can only refund the fruit & veggies-only tokens/vouchers if you refund an equal or greater amount of your CalFresh-only tokens/vouchers since you earned the extra benefits for those.
  3. Do I have to earn all of the $60 maximum in one transaction?
    No, you can come back to any participating market anytime this month to earn up to $60. Starting the following month, you can earn another $60.
  4. Do I have to redeem my earned benefit the same day I earn it?
    No, you can tell the Market Manager that you would like the earned supplemental benefit to remain on your card, and you will only receive the fruit and vegetable-only tokens/vouchers.
  5. Can I redeem part of my earned benefit in one transaction?
    Unfortunately during the pilot, you can only choose to redeem the full amount earned in the same transaction. But the tokens/vouchers never expire and you can come back next week to spend them. Or, the market manager can conduct a second transaction to redeem part of the earned benefits. We hope that in the future, this functionality will be added.
  6. How do I know if I’ve already received the $60 maximum for any given month?
    You can check your EBT balance, including the CA Fruit & Veggie EBT Pilot Incentive Maximum balance by using the 800-number and make an ARU Balance Inquiry, or login to the cardholder portal.
  7. What happens if I am close to the $60 monthly maximum, but want to spend more money at the Farmers’ Market, including on fruits and vegetables?
    It will make the transaction quicker if you already know if you’ve reached your $60 monthly match maximum before swiping your card at the information booth at the farmers’ market. You can call the 800-number, or login to the cardholder portal to check your CA Fruit & Veggie EBT Pilot Incentive Maximum balance. It will show your remaining balance of the $60 monthly maximum. If you have already reached the $60 maximum, the market manager can conduct a regular CalFresh purchase. The market manager will then give you CalFresh vouchers/tokens you can spend on anything CalFresh eligible, including fruits and vegetables.
  8. How long will this Pilot program be operating at the participating sites?
    For at least one year we believe (or entire season, if seasonal.) After that, we may go back to the old way where you can earn fruits and vegetables when you spend your Calfresh on anything CalFresh-eligible at the market. The hope of the Pilot is that it will create technology that can be utilized in a future statewide program.
  9. Is the classic/original Market Match program still available?
    Yes, many Farmers’ Markets are still offering the classic/original Market Match program. You can visit www.FMFinder.org to find a location nearest you. Look for the green pins on the map. When you click on the pin you can see details about the Market Match program, including if it is a Pilot site.
  10. Can I continue to participate in Market Match at other Farmers’ Markets, while also participating in the Pilot?
    If you live in an area where there are multiple Farmers’ Market sites offering Market Match, some of which are participating in the Pilot, and others which are not, you can still visit the other markets who have the per-market-day maximum AND visit the Pilot sites. This won’t change your $60 per month, per card/household maximum at the Pilot sites. The $60 for the Pilot sites is tracked through the State EBT system.
  11. Can I get my Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) or other benefits matched through the Pilot?
    The Pilot only matches fruit and veggies purchases when spending CalFresh, however some sites may match other benefit matches (e.g. P-EBT, WIC and Senior FMNP benefits.) Check with your farmers’ market manager at the info booth for details.
  12. Why did the program change?
    Some Farmers’ Markets are working as a Pilot site under the California Department of Social Services’ (CDSS) California Fruit & Vegetable Pilot. It is piloting new technology that integrates the incentive onto the EBT card. The Pilot reversed the way the incentive is earned, so now you earn more CalFresh dollars when you spend your CalFresh on fruits and vegetables. We hope this Pilot will allow for incentives to be offered at even more farmers’ markets and other retailers across the State.
  13. Do you have information about the Pilot/Program in languages other than English?
    Yes. We have information here in several different languages about how the program works. [list languages and hyperlinks.] The Farmers’ Market Finder (FMFinder.org) is translated in both English and Spanish, and will show you other farmers’ market Pilot sites, as well as sites offering “classic” Market Match.

WIC & Seniors

WIC is a health and nutrition program for women, infants, and children that provides families benefits for purchasing healthy foods. You can find the markets that accept your WIC benefits on the map, indicated by the WIC check icon next to the farmers’ market name.

There are two food benefit programs supported by WIC: Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Checks and the WIC card. Both may be spent at participating farmers’ markets.

Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) – WIC and Senior

FMNP provides vouchers to WIC recipients and low-income seniors to purchase fresh, nutritious, locally grown fruits and vegetables from farmers’ markets. Each eligible person or family receives a booklet of vouchers to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, and cut herbs at FMNP-approved farmers’ markets in California from May through November.

How do I get FMNP?
WIC Recipients: Contact your local WIC office
Seniors: Contact your local Area Agency on Aging

WIC Card

Benefits distributed on the WIC card can be spent directly with participating farmers. Ask the market manager if there are any participating vendors at your local farmers’ market.

Learn more about WIC here.

Cash/Credit/Debit Cards

Cash is the type of currency used most commonly at farmers’ markets. However, more and more vendors are set up to be able to process credit and debit cards directly at their booths. Some farmers’ markets are also set up to process credit and debit cards for a small fee. Check with the information booth – if they aren’t set up to process credit and debit cards, they can point you in the direction of the nearest ATM.

About this website

The Ecology Center is a nonprofit organization located in Berkeley, CA that maintains the Farmers’ Market Finder website, provides EBT technical assistance to farmers’ markets statewide, and operates three farmers’ markets in Berkeley. We are committed to supporting small-scale farmers who practice sustainable agriculture, and work with California farmers’ markets to help them become authorized to accept CalFresh and WIC nutrition benefits.

For more information Contact the Ecology Center:
510-925-4001
ebt@ecologycenter.org
ecologycenter.org/ebt and marketmatch.org

The Farmers’ Market Finder was created through a partnership between the Ecology Center and the Los Angeles Department of Public Social Services. For more information on CalFresh in Los Angeles County visit LA DPSS or call 1-866-613-3777.

Obtenga alimentos frescos y regionales en el mercado de agricultores

Los mercados de agricultores son mercados familiares al aire libre donde los agricultores de California traen productos frescos cultivados localmente y otros alimentos para venderlos directamente a los clientes. En los mercados de agricultores puede encontrar frutas, verduras, frutos secos, productos horneados, mermeladas y conservas, jugos, aceite de oliva, carne, queso, comidas preparadas, plantas de vivero, flores y mucho más.

¿Por qué comprar en el mercado de agricultores?

  • La mayoría de las granjas que venden en los mercados de agricultores incorporan prácticas de cultivo que mejoran la salud del suelo y del ecosistema, lo que beneficia a los animales, a los insectos y a los humanos por igual.
  • En estos mercados, los agricultores se llevan más de 90 centavos por cada dólar que gastan los clientes, en lugar de solo 15 centavos por dólar que los compradores gastan en los puntos de venta de alimentos tradicionales.
  • A diferencia de las grandes tiendas de comestibles, los productos del mercado de agricultores pasan por pocas manos —las de los agricultores, las de los empleados y las suyas— antes de llegar a su plato. Esta cadena de suministro más corta beneficia directamente a los agricultores en lugar de a las grandes corporaciones, mantiene los alimentos más frescos y es importante para la preparación ante desastres. Al comprar en el mercado de agricultores, usted está invirtiendo en granjas regionales para el suministro de sus alimentos ahora y en el futuro.

Los mercados de agricultores son mercados familiares al aire libre donde los agricultores de California traen productos frescos cultivados localmente y otros alimentos para venderlos directamente a los clientes. En los mercados de agricultores puede encontrar frutas, verduras, frutos secos, productos horneados, mermeladas y conservas, jugos, aceite de oliva, carne, queso, comidas preparadas, plantas de vivero, flores y mucho más.

MÁS INFORMACIÓN SOBRE

EBT CalFresh

Market Match

Market Match – el pilot California Frutas y Verduras EBT

Women, Infants, Children (WIC)

Efectivo y tarjetas de crédito/débito

EBT CalFresh

Los beneficiarios del Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP), o CalFresh en California, reciben una tarjeta de Transferencia Electrónica de Beneficios (Electronic Benefit Transfer, EBT) que se puede utilizar en el punto de venta para comprar alimentos elegibles.

¿Cómo uso mi tarjeta CalFresh EBT en el mercado de agricultores?

  1. Encuentre un mercado participante en el mapa (marcadores verde y marrón).
  2. Lleve su tarjeta EBT al puesto de información del mercado.
  3. Pase su tarjeta por el monto que elija y reciba ese monto en fichas/vales de EBT.
  4. Gaste sus fichas/vales en alimentos elegibles (todos los alimentos excepto comidas calientes y bebidas) en el mercado.

Algunos mercados de agricultores ofrecen dinero adicional para gastar en frutas y verduras frescas a través de Market Match. Obtenga más información en la sección a continuación.

¿Es el gerente de un mercado y quiere ofrecer CalFresh EBT? ¡Lo podemos ayudar!

Si usted está interesado en obtener más información sobre CalFresh o averiguar si es elegible para recibir los beneficios, llame a la Línea de Ayuda de Beneficios de CalFresh al
1-877-847-3663 o visite https://www.getcalfresh.org/.

Market Match

El programa Market Match permite que algunos mercados de agricultores ofrezcan dinero adicional a los titulares de tarjetas CalFresh EBT (y, en ocasiones, a quienes reciben beneficios WIC, Senior FMNP y SSI; consulte en el puesto de información para obtener más detalles) para comprar frutas y verduras frescas. Para obtener más detalles, vea los sitios participantes (marcadores verde en el mapa).

¿Cómo funciona en el mercado?

Market Match esta cambiando en sitios the Mercados de Agricultores selectos!

Estamos lanzando el pilot California Frutas y Verduras EBT, un proyecto con el Departamento de Servicios Sociales (CDSS).Entienda como el Piloto Funciona en los Mercados de Agricultores:

  1. Reciba un dólar por cada dólar que gaste cuando utilice sus beneficios CalFresh para comprar frutas y verduras. 
  2.  Reciba un máximo de $60 extra dolares por mes. 
  3. Utilice sus beneficios inmediatamente o guárdelo en su tarjeta EBT para usarlo después. Puede usar sus beneficios para comprar cualquier producto que sea elegible bajo CalFresh, como pan, leche, carne, o frutas y verduras. 

Los Mercados de Agricultores Participantes:

  • Sunrise Station Farmers’ Market, Rancho Cordova
  • Country Club Plaza Farmers’ Market, Sacramento
  • Downtown Napa Farmers’ Market
  • Grand Lake Farmers’ Market, Oakland
  • Adams Vermont Farmers’ Market, Los Angeles
  • Atwater Village Farmers’ Market, Los Angeles
  • Rialto Farmers’ Market

Encuentre estos sitios-Pilotos y otros Mercados de Agricultores que ofrecen Market Match en Farmers’ Market Finder. Nada más busque el nombre del Mercado, la cuidad, o el código postal.

WIC y Seniors

WIC es un programa de salud y nutrición para mujeres, bebés y niños que brinda beneficios a las familias para la compra de alimentos saludables. Puede encontrar los mercados que aceptan beneficios de WIC en el mapa, indicados por el ícono de verificación de WIC junto al nombre del mercado de agricultores.

Hay dos programas de beneficios de alimentos respaldados por WIC: Los cheques del Programa de Nutrición del Mercado de Granjeros y la tarjeta WIC. Ambos se pueden usar en los mercados de agricultores participantes.

Programa de Nutrición del Mercado de Granjeros – WIC y para Personas de la Tercera Edad
El Programa de Nutrición del Mercado de Granjeros (Farmers Market Nutrition Program, FMNP) entrega vales a los beneficiarios de WIC y a adultos mayores de bajos ingresos para comprar frutas y verduras frescas, nutritivas y cultivadas localmente en los mercados de agricultores. Cada persona o familia elegible recibe un talonario de vales para comprar frutas, verduras y hierbas frescas en los mercados de agricultores aprobados por el FMNP en California de mayo a noviembre.

¿Cómo accedo al programa FMNP?
Beneficiarios de WIC: Comuníquense con su oficina local de WIC.
Adultos mayores: Comuníquense con su Agencia de Envejecimiento local.

Tarjeta WIC
Los beneficios asignados a la tarjeta WIC se pueden gastar directamente en los agricultores participantes. Pregunte al gerente del mercado si hay algún proveedor participante en su mercado de agricultores local.

Obtenga más información sobre WIC aquí.

Efectivo y tarjetas de crédito/débito

El dinero efectivo es el medio de pago que más se utiliza en los mercados de agricultores. Sin embargo, hay cada vez más proveedores que aceptan el pago con tarjeta de crédito y débito directamente en sus puestos. Algunos mercados de agricultores también aceptan pagos con tarjeta de crédito y débito para pequeños montos. Consulte en el puesto de información: en el caso de no estar preparados para procesar tarjetas de crédito y débito, si pueden indicarle la dirección del cajero automático más cercano.

Acerca de este sitio web

Ecology Center es una organización sin fines de lucro ubicada en Berkeley, CA, que mantiene el sitio web Farmers’ Market Finder, que proporciona asistencia técnica de EBT a los mercados de agricultores en todo el estado y opera tres mercados de agricultores en Berkeley. Estamos comprometidos a apoyar a los pequeños agricultores que practican la agricultura sostenible y trabajamos con los mercados de agricultores de California para ayudarlos a obtener la autorización para aceptar los beneficios de nutrición de CalFresh y WIC.

Para obtener más información, comuníquese con el Ecology Center:
510-925-4001
ebt@ecologycenter.org
ecologycenter.org/ebt and marketmatch.org

El buscador de mercados de productores fue creado en una sociedad entre Ecology Center y el Departamento de Servicios Sociales Públicos de Los Angeles. Para obtener más información sobre CalFresh en el condado de Los Angeles, visite LA DPSS o llame al 1-866-613-3777.