Spokane Area Farmers’ Market Initiative supporting SNAP/EBT customers
Starting this month, the Spokane Farmers’ Market, Thursday Market in South Perry and the West Central Marketplace will all offer a partial match for purchases made with SNAP/EBT(formerly called ‘food stamps’) at their markets. For every $5 (up to $15 spent) in SNAP/EBT benefits used per market day, customers will receive an additional $2 in ‘Fresh Match’ bucks (max $6 in bucks per market), good for all SNAP-eligible products.
The goals of the model are to increase the purchasing power of customers currently using SNAP at markets, to encourage a larger volume of SNAP sales, and to attract and retain new customers shopping at farmers markets.
The initiative is a pilot project supported and administered by Catholic Charities of Spokane (CCS), with funding through an anonymous donor and other support through the Washington State Farmers’ Market Association (WSFMA). ‘Fresh Match’ will be available on normal operating days for each market until the pilot ends on October 11. Data will be collected on the program at each market, including tracking changes at the market days remaining in the season after the Oct. 11 close of the program.
All three participating markets accept SNAP/EBT cards, along with credit and debit cards, through a token-based system in which customers can run their cards to purchase market currency, which can then be redeemed with market vendors. ‘Fresh Match’ bucks will bepart of this system.
Both CCS and WSFMA are committed to operating a pilot project that can help determine the suitabilityand appropriate structure for a permanent ‘Fresh Match’ program at Spokane areafarmers’ markets. Organizers of the pilot aspire to develop a program model andfunding stream to expand the program into a full-season initiative starting in 2013. Says program coordinator Brian Estes, “We hope that lessons learned in the pilot can help lead the way for similar initiatives across the Northwest. ‘Fresh Match’ has the potential to leverage the important resources of SNAP dollars to help our community eat wel land support the local food system.”
The Spokane Farmers’ Market operates Wednesday and Saturday 8 am – 1 pm at 20 W 5th Ave.Thursday Market at South Perry operates Thursdays from 3-7 pm at 924 S Perry St.The West Central Marketplace operates Tuesdays from 3-6 pm at 1428 W Broadway Ave.
Those interested in details about the Fresh Match program or participating markets can contact CCS program coordinator Brian Estes at 509.521.0606 or bestes@ccspokane.org.
