EBT Accepted at Northeast Farmers Market!

​Helping to increase accessibility to fresh, local, healthy and affordable food for all consumers.

How to Use EBT at the Market:

• Find the EBT/Information Tent and decide how much you want to spend.

• We will swipe your EBT card and give you wooden tokens in exchange.

• You can use the tokens to purchase EBT eligible food items.

There is no fee to use this service. EBT tokens are available in $1 increments. No change can be given for tokens, so purchases should be rounded to the nearest dollar. EBT tokens do not expire, so you can either spend them right away or save them for a future date. Tokens can only be used to purchase food at Northeast Farmers Market only.

Bonus: We double your first $10 in EBT each market day!

We will match the first $10 in EBT once per market day! This dollar-for-dollar match is given in “Market Bucks” at the EBT/ Information Tent when you use your EBT card. Market Bucks can be used to purchase EBT eligible foods and are similar to the wooden EBT tokens, they just look different.

There is no fee to use this service. You can return the next market day and double your first $10 again. Market Bucks are available in $1 increments. No change can be given, so purchases should be rounded to the nearest dollar. Market Bucks do have an expiration date, so we encourage customers to spend these first.

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What is EBT?

EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) is the electric debit card system that delivers food and cash benefits. Food benefits are distributed through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the Food Stamp Program. “EBT” and “SNAP” can be used interchangeably.

If you are wondering if you qualify for EBT/SNAP, you can contact the Minnesota Food Helpline at 1-888-711-1151 to find out more information.

EBT can only be used to purchase certain food items. The following lists what can and cannot be purchased with EBT/SNAP benefits:

CAN buy:

• Breads, grains, cereals

• Fruits and vegetables

• Meats, fish, poultry and dairy products

• Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat

• Other food and food products for human consumption.

CANNOT buy:

• Alcohol, beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco

• Nonfood items such as: pet foods, soaps, paper products, household supplies

• Vitamins and minerals

• Food sold to be eaten on-premise

• Hot foods

History​

In 2006, Midtown Farmers Market was the first farmers market in Minnesota to start accepting EBT. Each year, more farmers markets across the state and the nation are accepting EBT. These efforts are essential to make fresh, healthy and local food accessible to low income shoppers. Northeast Minneapolis Farmers Market got on board with a pilot program in 2009 as the third market in Minneapolis to start accepting EBT. 

Contact our EBT Coordinator for more information: ebt@northeastmarket.org