Applications are now open for farmers markets that are interested in beginning to participate in the Double Up Food Bucks program during the 2019 market season.
Double Up Food Bucks is a program of Fair Food Network (FFN), a national nonprofit pioneering solutions that support farmers, strengthen local economies, and increase access to healthy food—especially in our most underserved communities. FFN’s Double Up Food Bucks program makes it easier for low-income Americans to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables while supporting family farmers and growing local economies. The Double Up program provides Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries with a one-to-one match to purchase healthy, locally grown fruits and vegetables at participating locations.
Application Process for Farmers Markets
For the purpose of this application, FFN defines a farmers markets as a site where locally grown fruits and vegetables are direct marketed to customers and where site administrators reimburse individual vendors for food assistance sales.
Applications will be accepted until March 30, 2019
Farmers markets that participated during the 2018 season do NOT need to reapply.
Please contact MIFMA at 517-432-3381 with any questions about applying.
Program Requirements for Farmers Markets:
To qualify to participate in the Double Up program, farmers markets must:
- Be able to accept SNAP benefits- If your market does not yet accept SNAP, MIFMA offers a series of resources to help you get started. Visit https://mifma.org/snap/ to learn more.
- Have a SNAP Permit number from USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) by March 30, 2019
- Have a point-of-sale device and SNAP currency in their possession by May 1, 2019
- Demonstrate sufficient organizational capacity to handle the associated accounting and reporting
- Have written support to participate in the program from their governing and/or fiscal organization (if different from the market operations organization)
- Have a designated market manager or staff person responsible for Double Up implementation
Priority will be given to markets who:
- Have demonstrated experience accepting SNAP benefits (minimum one season of experience is preferred)
- Are providing increased access to fresh fruits and vegetable for low-income consumers in communities not currently being served by the Double Up program
For Direct Marketing Sites
If you represent a farm stand, food share program, or CSA that has direct-to-consumer sales and is into learning more about Double Up, please follow this link to express your interest to Fair Food Network: