Shop with your Food Assistance Benefits
The Downtown Marquette Farmers Market participates in a variety of Food Assistance Programs. Shoppers can shop with their EBT/SNAP Bridge Card, Food as Medicine Prescription for Health, and UP Fresh Food Access vouchers. Shoppers can also earn and shop with Double Up Food Bucks at the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market.
SNAP/EBT Bridge Card
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is the name for food stamps. In Michigan, this program is also referred to as the Bridge Card. Those who meet income eligibility requirements are allotted a set amount of money each month, on their Bridge Card, to help them purchase food. Please note, no change is given when using SNAP/EBT benefits. Amounts will be rounded up to the nearest dollar.
How to shop with your SNAP EBT Bridge card at the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market: Visit the Information Booth before you shop! Have a Market Cashier swipe your EBT card in exchange for wooden tokens you can then use to shop with.
Michigan P-EBT Card
In 2020 Michigan announced the Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) program, providing temporary food assistance benefits to families with school-aged children that are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches. No application is necessary. Eligible families will receive a pre-loaded Bridge (EBT) card in the mail. Benefits will continue to be added through summer 2022. Eligible products for this card are the same as the SNAP/EBT Bridge Card. Please note, no change is given when using P-EBT benefits. Amounts will be rounded up to the nearest dollar.
How to shop with your P-EBT card at the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market: Visit the Information Booth before you shop! Have a Market Cashier swipe your P-EBT card in exchange for wooden tokens you can then use to shop with.
Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB)
When you use your SNAP/EBT Bridge Card or P-EBT Card to shop at the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market (and other participating markets in the State of Michigan), the amount of money that you spend is matched with Double Up Food Bucks, up to $20. In other words, this is $20 of FREE money! Double Up Food Bucks can be used to exclusively buy fruits and vegetables that have been grown in Michigan. These free dollars allow shoppers to allocate EBT/P-EBT funds to be used on other groceries found at the market, such as meat, bread, eggs, maple syrup, honey, and jam. You do not need to spend all of your Double Up Food Bucks on the same day you get them. You can spend some and save some for another week. Please note, no change is given when using Double Up benefits. Amounts will be rounded up to the nearest even dollar.
How to shop and earn Double Up Food Bucks the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market: Visit the Information Booth before you shop and talk with the Market Cashier.
Food as Medicine
This program from the Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress (UPCAP) helps participants purchase more fruits and vegetables from local farmers to support their health and our local farming economy. Each participant will receive $1 vouchers for a total of $15 per week. Once enrolled, vouchers will be mailed monthly by the 15th of the month. Vouchers can be spent at participating farmers markets across the U.P. All vouchers expire on October 31.
How to shop with your Food as Medicine Prescription for Health Vouchers at the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market: Bring your vouchers to the market and give them directly to participating vendors for payment in exchange for fresh fruits and vegetables!
U.P. Fresh Food Access
This program from the Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress (UPCAP) helps participants purchase meat, eggs, maple syrup, honey, wild rice and dairy items from local farmers, to support their health and our local farming economy. Each participant will receive $5 vouchers for a total of $25 per month year-round. To participate, you must enroll in the Food as Medicine Program first. Once enrolled, vouchers will be mailed monthly by the 15th of the month. Vouchers can be spent at participating access sites across the U.P. All vouchers expire on October 31.
How to shop with your U.P. Fresh Food Access Program Vouchers at the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market: Bring your vouchers to the market and give them directly to participating vendors for payment in exchange for meat, eggs, maple syrup, and honey. Wild rice and dairy items are also eligible, however, we do not have any vendors that offer these products currently.
Note: WIC and Senior WIC are not managed through the market but are available on a vendor-by-vendor basis.
How Do Clients Get WIC Produce Connection Benefits?
WIC clients wanting more information on WIC Produce Connection benefits should contact their local WIC Clinic.
How Do Clients Get Senior WIC Produce Connection Benefits?
Questions about the Senior Market FRESH program should be directed to Aging and Community Services a 517-241-4100 or Senior Project Fresh Program (michigan.gov)
Food Assistance Token Guide
What can I purchase with my Food Assistance Benefits?
Each type of Food Assistance Benefit allows shoppers to purchase specific items. It can be a lot to remember! Use this guide to help you shop with confidence.
Stop by the Information Booth to pick up a printed-out copy to reference while you shop. If you have any questions our Market Manager and Market Cashier are available to help!
Customers can use their EBT Bridge Card, WIC Project FRESH, Senior Market FRESH, Food as Medicine, and UP Fresh Food Access Vouchers to shop and purchase items at the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market.
