We believe everyone should get to eat and enjoy delicious food.
One of our top priorities is to make fresh, local foods accessible to everyone, regardless of income. We work to make sure you can use food assistance benefits at Seattle farmers markets. Our vendors also donate high-qulaity produce to food banks, and we enable food pantries to provide vouchers for clients to purchase produce in our markets. Scroll below to learn more!
EBT/SNAP
Shoppers swipe their card at the Market Manager tent, and then can use their benefits to purchase food and produce from vendor booths.
SNAP Market Match
Each time you swipe your SNAP card at the Market Manager tent, you get a dollar for dollar bonus match, for any amount you swipe.
Fresh Bucks
Eligible and enrolled customers can use their Fresh Bucks card or app to buy fruits and vegetables at Seattle farmers markets.
WIC & Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
Qualifying WIC & Seniors receive benefits to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at Seattle farmers markets. For WIC clients, there is also the year-round WIC Fruit & Vegetable Benefit.
How do I use my benefits at the market?
Step 1: Bring your benefit card to the Manager’s Tent at any of our farmers markets. We’ll show you how you can shop for farm-grown foods and get more for your money. (We also have a handy visual guide to market currencies here.)
Step 2: Double your dollars: If you’re an EBT/SNAP participant, you automatically get a bonus, matched dollar for dollar, no matter how much you swipe.
Step 3: If you have vouchers from any other program, such as Fresh Bucks, we’ll show you how to use them to shop in the market.
EBT/SNAP
Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT/SNAP) shoppers can use their benefits to shop at any Seattle farmers market to buy anything except cut flowers, alcohol, and ready-to-eat foods. (Click here to see the USDA's info page "What can SNAP Buy")
When you arrive at the market, visit the Market Manager’s tent. We’ll swipe your card for the amount you choose and give you wooden market tokens in exchange. These tokens never expire. Use them at any of our seven market locations at any time. All EBT/SNAP benefits are doubled with SNAP Market Match or a similar match program depending on the market. For more information, call 1-877-501-2233.
How to Enroll: Visit Washington Connection for more information.
SNAP Market Match
The SNAP Market Match program is a dollar-for-dollar match that doubles your EBT/SNAP dollars.
When you visit the Manager’s tent with your EBT/SNAP card, we’ll give you SNAP Market Match in $1 increments equal to the amount of market token dollars you redeem. For example, use $10 in EBT/SNAP and get an additional $10 in Market Match.
Use SNAP Market Match to buy fresh, frozen, or dried fruits and vegetables, and edible plant starts (note that this is not the same list of items you can buy with your SNAP).”
Market Match programs may look different at each market. Visit the manager’s tent to learn more about how market match works at that market.
No Enrollment Required
Fresh Bucks
Fresh Bucks helps Seattle residents on a tight budget afford more fruits and vegetables.
Eligible and enrolled customers can use their Fresh Bucks card or app to buy fruits and vegetables at Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets.
When you arrive at the market, visit the Market Manager’s tent to exchange your electronic Fresh Bucks benefits for paper bucks that can then be used to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.
How to Enroll: Visit the Fresh Bucks Website for more information.
WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program
WIC recipients can buy fresh fruits and vegetables at any of our seven markets locations through their WIC Fruit and Vegetable Benefits and the Farmers Market Nutrition Program.
WIC shoppers can now shop directly with vendors using the QR code on their WIC card or app. Click here to learn how.
It’s easy to find farm booths in the markets that participate in this program:
Look for the blue WIC & Senior FMNP signs, and the Year-Round WIC Benefit signs.
Options for WIC recipients are explained here. For more information on WIC benefits at Farmers Markets, click here. For info on how to use your QR code, click here.
How to Enroll: Visit the WA Department of Health – WIC Website for more information.
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
Through FMNP programs, seniors can buy fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers markets. (Rember to spend the entire amount of your FMNP benefits during your market visit - we aren’t able to give you change.)
It’s easy to find farm booths that participate in this program:
Just look for the blue WIC & Senior FMNP signs.
If you're a senior who might qualify, contact your local area agency on aging for eligibility requirements and deadlines. Call Community Living Connections at 206-962-8467 or 1-844-348-5464 for more information.
Helping Harvest Farm Bucks
The Helping Harvest program allows food banks and other charitable organizations to purchase Farm Bucks for clients. Farm Bucks are market currency that is used to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at any of our seven farmers markets locations.
This is an excellent way for service organizations to provide their clients with direct access to fresh, local farm produce. Several of Seattle's long-time food banks have been purchasing and distributing thousands of Farm Bucks to their clients each season for many years, enabling folks in need to shop the markets for healthy, seasonal fruits and vegetables. Learn more.
EBT / SNAP
Apply for EBT/SNAP:
Online at Washington Connection
By phone at 877-501-2233
In-person at your local Community Services Office
No application needed for SNAP Match Programs. EBT/SNAP will automatically be matched at our markets.
WIC
Apply to the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program:
Online at WA Department of Health - WIC
By phone through the Help Me Grow WA Hotline at 1-800-322-2588
In person at your nearest WIC Clinic. Find your nearest clinic here.
Senior FNMP
Apply for the Senior Farmers Markets Nutrition Program:
If you need help completing your application, please contact Community Living Connections at 206-962-8467 or (toll-free) 1-844-348-6464.
Would your organization like to sponsor Helping Harvest Farm Bucks to increase healthy food access?
The process is easy. Determine your budget and how many Farm Bucks you’d like to distribute then send us an email. You can distribute bucks through our established community partners or on your own.
