Consumer Benefits at Farmers' Markets

Are you shopping at New York State farmers' markets? Are you eligible for nutrition incentive program benefits, and looking for more information? Here are a few things you should know:

• The Department does not regulate farmers' markets, but does regulate foods sold at the market. Find more information here.

The Department administers the following programs:

• Farmers' Market Nutrition Program: The purpose of the New York State Farmers' Market Nutrition Programs (FMNP) is to promote local farmers by expanding their sales at farmers' markets and farm stands, and to foster healthy communities through the consumption of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. FMNP does this through the promotion of fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables grown by local farmers so they may expand their sales through New York State farmers’ markets and farm stands.
• FreshConnect Checks: The FreshConnect Checks Program was designed to increase the purchasing power of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) consumers while supporting local farmers, farmers’ markets, farm stands, and mobile markets.
• NYS Wireless EBT: This program allows farmers and market coordinators to become authorized vendors in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly Food Stamps), allowing SNAP participants greater access to fresh, locally produced food items.

The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs are two federal programs run by New York State. One program benefits low-income seniors (SFMNP), and the other benefits WIC recipients (WIC FMNP). FMNP works to improve the nutrition of families enrolled in WIC and low-income seniors by promoting eating fresh, local fruits and vegetables. The program is also intended to encourage economic development in communities through the promotion and expansion of farmers' markets and farm stands in New York State. 

Consumers who are eligible for these programs are provided with coupons to use for fresh, local fruits and vegetables at participating farmers' markets, farm stands, and mobile markets in New York State. Information on how to use the coupons may be found online in the following languages: English, Arabic (عربى), Italian (italiana), Korean (한국어), Polish (Polski), Chinese (中国人), Yiddish (ייִדיש), Spanish (español), Haitian Creole (kreyòl ayisyen), Russian (русский), Bengali (বাংলা), French (française), and Urdu (اردو).

The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs are federally funded and the WIC and senior coupon recipients are protected from discrimination in accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies. Learn more about the federally protected classes or to file a complaint.

Examples of what you can buy using FMNP benefits with authorized vendors include locally grown, fresh fruits, vegetables, and culinary herbs. Examples of eligible items include (but are not limited to) the following: berries, stone fruits, apples, salad greens, peppers, tomatoes, garlic, potatoes, squashes, basil, thyme, rosemary, etc.

Examples of what you CANNOT buy using FMNP benefits include exotic and imported produce, prepared foods, and baked goods. Examples of ineligible items include (but are not limited to) the following: Florida oranges, avocados from Mexico, sandwiches, jams and jellies, stews, hot meals, breads, pies, cookies, etc.

If you are low-income, older adult (aged 60+ years) who lives in New York State, you may be eligible to receive Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) coupons. Coupon booklets contain five $5 coupons, with a total value of $25.

Older adults who are eligible for this program receive a booklet with SFMNP coupons that can only be used to purchase local, fresh, unprocessed vegetables and fruits at participating farmers' markets and farm stands. They must contact their local county Office for the Aging for more information about where to receive SFMNP coupons. The program starts July 1 and coupons are distributed on a first come, first served basis.

If you reside outside of New York City, contact your County Office for the Aging for more information by calling (800) 342-9871.

If you reside in the New York City Metro Area, contact the Department for the Aging or your local senior center by calling General Assistance at 311. You can also contact the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).

Find a market in your area where benefits are accepted.

Documents on how to use the coupons may be found online in the following languages: English, Arabic (عربى), Italian (italiana), Korean (한국어), Polish (Polski), Chinese (中国人), Yiddish (ייִדיש), Spanish (español), Haitian Creole (kreyòl ayisyen), Russian (русский), Bengali (বাংলা), French (française), and Urdu (اردو).

Pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to the age of five, who are enrolled in the New York State Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), are eligible to receive WIC FMNP coupons. These coupons can only be used at participating farmers' markets and farm stands to purchase local, fresh, unprocessed vegetables and fruit.

Coupon booklets contain five $5 coupons, with a total value of $25. WIC participants receive their FMNP coupons from their local WIC office.

Contact your local WIC location for more information by calling (800) 522-5006.

Information on how to use the coupons may be found online in the following languages: English, Arabic (عربى), Italian (italiana), Korean (한국어), Polish (Polski), Chinese (中国人), Yiddish (ייִדיש), Spanish (español), Haitian Creole (kreyòl ayisyen), Russian (русский), Bengali (বাংলা), French (française), and Urdu (اردو).

The FreshConnect Checks Program supports local farmers by providing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) consumers a way to increase their purchasing power at New York State farmers’ markets, and by providing a direct incentive for veterans, service members, and their immediate families to use the benefits at New York State farmers’ markets, farm stands, and mobile markets.

Participants can use their FCC benefits with any farmer or vendor who is selling SNAP eligible food items at any farmers’ market, farm stand, or mobile market operating in New York State, and is willing to accept FCC.

The Fresh2You initiative was launched in 2023, providing double the purchasing power for SNAP participants at participating NYS farmers’ markets, farm stands, and mobile markets.

Examples of what you can buy using FCC benefits include (but are not limited to) SNAP eligible food items such as fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, eggs, honey, breads and cereals, snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages for the household, and seeds and plants which produce food for household consumption.

Examples of what you CANNOT buy using FCC benefits include (but are not limited to) the following: beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes and tobacco, foods that are hot at the point of sale, vitamins, medicines, and supplements, and any nonfood items such as pet food or hygiene products.

SNAP benefit recipients may use those SNAP benefits at farmers’ markets and participating farm stands in NY. Find participating markets and farm stands here.

You may also visit SNAP-to-Market for more information about using SNAP benefits at farmers’ markets. While at a participating farmers’ market, you may be eligible to receive FreshConnect Checks in addition to your SNAP benefit. For every $2 in SNAP benefits a customer exchanges for wooden tokens, the manager may issue a $2 FreshConnect Check. This check may be spent at the market on any SNAP eligible food item.

If you do not currently receive SNAP benefits, you can find out more at the NYS Office of Temporary Disability Assistance, or check out this list of resources.

If you are a veteran, service member, or an immediate family member of a veteran or service member, you may be eligible to receive FreshConnect Checks through the Department of Veterans' Services offices. For more information about these coupons, you can call your local office. Find your local office here. 

You can shop with these FreshConnect Checks at farmers’ markets or farm stands in New York State. Coupons can be redeemed for any SNAP eligible food items, including fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, breads, seeds, and plants that produce food, and more. Recipients can find complete instructions on using FreshConnect Checks on the front of each coupon.

Find a market that participates in FreshConnect Checks.