FOOD ACCESS AT THE
FARMERS MARKET
We work hard to ensure that the Roslindale Farmers Market is accessible to everyone. Read more about the food access programs that are available at our Farmers Market:
SNAP/HIP
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP):
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly the Food Stamp Program) is the Nation’s largest nutritional assistance program and the cornerstone of Federal Government efforts to alleviate hunger in the United States and its territories. SNAP benefits are funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). They are issued by individual States and redeemable at any authorized FNS SNAP retailer, which includes the Roslindale Farmers Market.
SNAP is administered by the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA).
Please check out the DTA website for translated materials and more information.
SNAP benefits include:
• Monthly funds on an EBT card to buy food
• $40 a month put back on your EBT card when you use SNAP to buy local produce via the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP)
Healthy Incentives Program (HIP):
HIP puts money back on your EBT card when you use SNAP to buy healthy, local fruits and vegetables from HIP farm vendors. HIP is a program within SNAP and to have HIP benefits you need to have a balance on your SNAP card. Signs at the market show what you can buy with HIP. Learn more about HIP on the program's website. To sign up for SNAP, or general questions please call the Project Bread FoodSource Hotline at (800) 645-8333.
Using SNAP and HIP at the Roslindale Farmers Market:
1. The SNAP recipient makes a request for purchase with the vendor at the Farmers Market. The vendor fills out a slip for the items, the amount, the date, and the name of the vendor.
2. The SNAP recipient brings the slip to the RVMS tent where we will swipe their EBT card at the central POS terminal and charge for the items being purchased. We will give the SNAP recipient a receipt and stamp the slip for the vendor. If you are using HIP, the receipt will show that the money is taken from your HIP benefits.
3. The SNAP recipient will go back to the vendor with the stamped slip and receipt and collect their items.
RVMS MARKET BUCKS
At each Farmers Market starting on Saturday, June 13, SNAP recipients get $10 in Market Bucks to spend on market day! This program will run as long as our budget allows, and we will announce when it closes. See the Market Manager's tent for more info.
What are SNAP Market Bucks?
The SNAP Market Bucks program is an initiative by RVMS to help SNAP recipients at the Farmers Market extend their benefits. SNAP customers will receive up to $10 to use at the Roslindale Farmers Market. The coupons must be used by the end of the market day.
How do SNAP Market Bucks work?
SNAP recipients can visit the Farmers Market Manager booth to pick up their Market Bucks. Each SNAP recipient is limited to $10 in Market Bucks per day. The market staff will record the last four digits of the EBT card used. The Market Bucks can be used to purchase SNAP eligible items from any vendor in the market. Market Bucks are not transferable to any other markets, and cannot be exchanged for cash. Vendors will turn in their Market Bucks for RVMS to reimburse them at the end of each market date.
Using SNAP Market Bucks at the Roslindale Farmers Market:
1. The SNAP recipient stops by the RVMS Market Manager's tent and shows their EBT card. We will give the SNAP recipient $10 of Market Bucks (in $5 increments) valid until the end of the market on that date only.
2. The SNAP recipient will go to any vendor that accepts SNAP, and use their Market Bucks like cash. No change will be provided, and Market Bucks cannot be exchanged for cash. The customer may use their Market Bucks to purchase any SNAP eligible items.
Tip: If you are using your SNAP benefits to purchase items at the Farmers Market, first go to the vendor you'd like to purchase from and get a slip. When you bring that slip to the Market Manager's tent, we will give you your $10 in Market Bucks. Go back to the vendor to pick up your items, and you can spend the additional $10.
CITY OF BOSTON
FARMERS MARKET COUPONS
From July - September, the City of Boston issues Farmers Market Coupons that may be spent at farmers markets across the city, including the Roslindale Farmers Market. The City of Boston’s Office of Food Justice Coupons are pre-distributed each month to eligible recipients and expire at the end of the month. Coupons can be used to purchase fruits, vegetables, herbs, veggie seeds and seedlings, meat, fish, dairy, eggs, dried goods, baked goods, honey, and maple syrup.
Customers can use the Farmers Market Coupons to pay for items, and the vendors will be reimbursed for any Coupons they collect.
LOCATION & PARKING FOR THE FARMERS MARKET
During both the Summer and Winter Farmers Markets, parking is available during the market at the Lower Commuter Rail Lot off of Belgrade Avenue (pay $2 using the PayByPhone app) and the Taft Hill Terrace Municipal Lot #8. Please click on the icons to get directions to each location.