Last week, the state budget bill containing funding for the Market Bucks program was signed by the governor, and the program was fired up again for the 2017 season. The Market Bucks were printed and distributed this week, and will be available beginning Saturday at the market info booth. The Market Bucks program improves access to fresh local food for SNAP/EBT (sometimes referred to as food stamps) recipients, by matching up to $10 per day spent in SNAP/EBT at the market dollar for dollar with Market Bucks. Check out the infographic below or visit the Hunger Solutions website for more details on how the Market Bucks program works.

As the first farmers market in the state of Minnesota to accept SNAP/EBT, and one of the markets with the highest SNAP/EBT redemption rates in the city, we are excited and relieved to see this program funded again for the 2017 season. By helping SNAP-EBT users stretch their dollars at the farmers market, the Market Bucks program helps us make our vision of Fresh, Local Flavor – FOR ALL a reality. Thank you to everyone who reached out to their legislators and/or took other steps to advocate to restore funding to this program!