Senior man with caregiver shopping Senior man with caregiver shopping at market place Senior Adult

FoodShare at Farmers’ Markets

Using SNAP/FoodShare helps Wisconsinites access fresh, local food and helps Farmers Market Managers make healthy options accessible to more customers.

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700k

Wisconsinites use WI FoodShare for food assistance

.02%

of Wisconsin FoodShare Dollars are spent at Farmers Markets, or about $120 million out of nearly $2 Billion

Table of Contents

Share

Overview

SNAP (called FoodShare in Wisconsin) provides nutrition assistance to people with low income. FoodShare users can use EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) at local farmers’ markets to buy fresh, healthy food and connect with people who produce it. When fresh produce is in season, it is often at its lowest price. Buying groceries at the farmers’ market is a great way to support your community by supporting local farmers. It is also an opportunity to connect with friends and neighbors.

Using SNAP/FoodShare at farmers’ markets not only enhances access to nutritious food, but also supports local economies by boosting sales for small-scale farmers. The variety of markets accepting EBT is growing, making it easier for users to find and access fresh, local food.

Happy farmer selling organic strawberries to a client at a Farmer's Market Happy Latin American farmer selling organic strawberries to a client at a Farmer's Market

Whom We Serve

Individuals who want to use FoodShare benefits to buy fresh, local food.

Farmers market managers interested in boosting healthy food access by accepting EBT benefits.

How It Works

How to use SNAP/FoodShare at Farmers’ Markets: At the market, there may be several ways to use food assistance benefits to pay for fruits and vegetables. Bring your Quest (EBT) Card, WIC or Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) checks and stop by the information table to learn how to use your benefits. Not all markets participate in all programs.

Note: Not all markets accept all types of benefits, so it’s essential to check in advance which programs are available at your local market. Some markets may provide additional information or have different procedures for using FoodShare or other benefits.

Visit Info Booth

Visit the farmers’ market information table.

Obtain Tokens

Swipe your QUEST (EBT) Card to obtain tokens or paper currency to spend at the market.

Shop Vendors Who Accept FoodShare

Bring your tokens or paper currency to a vendor who accepts FoodShare/EBT.

Buy Fresh, Local Foods

Use your tokens to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and other foods!

What You Can Buy

SNAP (FoodShare in Wisconsin)

Allowed: SNAP-eligible food items and food producing plants and seeds. This includes fruits and vegetables, meat, eggs, poultry, bread, cheese, and pasteurized milk.
Not Allowed: Food that is meant to be eaten as soon as it is purchased. Example: food you would get at a store or restaurant that is ready to eat, such as hot tamales or fresh, unwrapped baked goods.

WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program

Allowed: Locally grown, fresh, unprocessed fruits, vegetables, and fresh cut herbs for human consumption. Examples: apples, lettuce, green beans, berries, celery, peppers, tomatoes, and herbs.
Not Allowed: Non-produce items such as cheese, meat, baked goods, cider, or nuts.

Nutrition Incentive Programs

These programs vary by location, but often double the value of your SNAP purchases, making your benefits go further.
Many nutrition incentive programs offer Double Dollars specifically for buying fruit and vegetables.

Success & Impact

Improving FoodShare Utilization at Farmers’ Markets Through a Multilevel Intervention

To expand access to local farmers’ markets in communities with limited incomes, Extension FoodWIse programs increase not only the availability of EBT programs but also increase the awareness that SNAP participants have of EBT programs at farmers’ markets.

Healthy markets, strong communities: Enhancing EBT at farmers markets

Food security has taken on a new prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic through major disruptions to access to healthy foods and family economic conditions. Extension and the Milwaukee Farmers Market Coalition tackled both, more than doubling the amount of federal food assistance used in Milwaukee-area markets.