Fresh, local food should be for everyone. Millions of families use SNAP (formerly food stamps) through an EBT card — and a growing number of farmers markets and individual farm stands accept it. This guide covers both sides of the table: how shoppers use SNAP at the market, and how farmers start accepting it.
Using SNAP/EBT as a shopper
If a market or vendor is authorized, using your benefits is straightforward. Some markets run a central booth where you swipe your EBT card for tokens or scrip to spend with any participating vendor; others let individual vendors accept EBT directly. Either way, look for a SNAP/EBT acceptance sign — or, on Farmooly, a SNAP badge on the listing.
What SNAP covers (and what it doesn't)
✅ Eligible
- Fruits & vegetables
- Meat, poultry & fish
- Dairy & eggs
- Breads & grains
- Honey, jams & other packaged foods
- Seeds & plants that produce food
🚫 Not eligible
- Hot or prepared foods meant to eat on-site
- Alcohol & tobacco
- Cut flowers & ornamental plants
- Soaps, candles & other non-food items
- Pet food
Stretch your benefits with Double Up Food Bucks. Many markets match your SNAP spending on fresh fruits and vegetables — often dollar-for-dollar up to a daily limit. That can effectively double your produce budget. Ask at the market's info booth, since limits and availability vary by state and market.
Some markets and states also participate in the Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) for WIC and seniors, which provides checks or benefits specifically for use at authorized farmers markets. These are separate from SNAP but often available at the same markets.
Accepting SNAP/EBT as a vendor
Accepting SNAP is good for your community and your business — it opens your stand to more customers and, with incentive programs, encourages bigger produce purchases. Here's the path:
- Apply for USDA FNS authorization. Farmers and markets apply through the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to become an authorized SNAP retailer.
- Get set up to process EBT. This may be through your market's central terminal or your own equipment.
- Look into incentive programs. Once authorized, you may qualify to offer Double Up Food Bucks or similar matches, which many shoppers actively seek out.
- Show your badge. On Farmooly, authorized vendors display a SNAP badge so benefit shoppers can find you before they even leave the house.
Farmooly surfaces SNAP acceptance per vendor and per market. A vendor's SNAP badge only appears when they have USDA FNS authorization on file — so it's a signal shoppers can trust. See how to set up your storefront →
Frequently asked questions
Can you use SNAP/EBT at farmers markets?
Yes. Many farmers markets and individual farm vendors accept SNAP/EBT. A vendor or market must have USDA FNS retailer authorization to accept SNAP. On Farmooly, listings that accept SNAP/EBT show a SNAP badge so you can find them quickly.
What can you buy with SNAP at a farmers market?
Most foods meant to be taken home and eaten: fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs, breads, and food-producing plants and seeds. SNAP does not cover hot prepared foods, alcohol, or non-food items like soaps or cut flowers.
What is Double Up Food Bucks?
A nutrition-incentive program at many farmers markets that matches SNAP spending on fresh fruits and vegetables, often dollar-for-dollar up to a daily limit — effectively doubling a shopper's produce budget. Availability and limits vary by market and state.
How do I find a farmers market that accepts EBT near me?
Look for markets and vendors that display a SNAP/EBT acceptance badge. On Farmooly you can browse local farms and markets by state and city and see which accept SNAP/EBT before you go.
How does a farmer start accepting SNAP/EBT?
Apply for USDA FNS retailer authorization and get equipment to process EBT transactions. Once authorized, you can accept SNAP and often qualify to offer incentive programs like Double Up Food Bucks.