Double Up Food Buck Applications for Direct Marketing Farmers Now Available

March 15, 2019 | Food Assistance Acceptance

Applications are now open for both farmers markets and direct marketing farmers that are interested in beginning to participate in the Double Up Food Bucks program during the 2019 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.

 Sites that participated during the 2018 season do NOT need to reapply. 

Application Process for Direct Marketing Sites

For the purpose of this application, if you represent a farm stand, food share program, CSA, or other model that has direct-to-consumer sales FFN defines you as a direct marketing site.

Applications are being accepted until 5 pm Friday, April 19th, 2019

2019 Direct Marketing Site Application

A required online training for all direct marketing sites will take place on Tuesday, April 23rd at 10 am.

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 are being accepted until 5 pm Monday, April 1st, 2019

2019 Farmers Market Application

A required online training for all new market managers and new farmers market sites will take place on Monday, April 8th at 10 am.

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 an SNAP Permit number from USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) by April 30, 2019
  • Have a point-of-sale device and SNAP currency (Farmers Markets only)  in their possession by May 1, 2019, if you need support with a point-of-sale device please email joe@mifma.or
  • 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