FreshMatch Expansion Impact: FRESHFARM’s Rapid Response During Federal Shutdown
FreshMatch Expansion Impact
Last month, FRESHFARM launched an unprecedented effort to support our community during a time of tremendous need and uncertainty. As the federal government shutdown stretched into its second month and households across the country worried about losing access to SNAP benefits, we mobilized quickly to expand our FreshMatch incentive program. The goal of the FreshMatch expansion was simple and urgent: ensure that SNAP customers and furloughed or unpaid federal workers could continue to access fresh, local food during the shutdown.
This rapid response was made possible through the generosity of our donors, funders, and farmers who stepped up immediately, the dedication of our staff who crafted and implemented a plan of action in real time, and the strength of our broader community rallying together in a difficult moment.
What is SNAP and FreshMatch?
SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps) is the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a food benefit for low-income families that supplements their grocery budget. In the Washington, DC Metro area, SNAP helps hundreds of thousands of households eat each month.
FRESHFARM’s FreshMatch program provides a dollar-for-dollar match on all federal benefits spent at market. Shoppers can take home more fresh and nutritious produce, while the FreshMatch program also helps to create and sustain new revenue streams for local farmers and food producers. The program is available at all 25 FRESHFARM farmers markets and partner locations across the region while annual funding lasts.
Expanding FreshMatch in a Moment of Crisis
From November 1 to November 17, FRESHFARM provided all SNAP users and furloughed or unpaid federal workers with $30 in FreshMatch to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables at any FRESHFARM farmers market or partner FreshMatch location across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Additionally, we also offered Market Shares at no cost to customers who typically pay with SNAP as well as furloughed or unpaid federal workers.
While this response meant distributing our FreshMatch funds far more quickly than usual, we knew this immediate assistance would alleviate the stress of slashed grocery budgets and the fear of not knowing how to put fresh, nutritious food on the table for so many of our neighbors and shoppers.
We are deeply grateful for support from the Robert I. Schattner Foundation, the Albertsons Companies Foundation and Safeway Foundation, Morningstar Foundation, and Rosendin Foundation, whose contributions enabled us to respond quickly at scale. We also extend our sincere appreciation to the FRESHFARM community who also stepped up with more than $22,000 in individual donations to support the FreshMatch expansion.
Immediate Impact for a Community in Need
During the 17 days the expanded FreshMatch program was active, FRESHFARM distributed more than $128,000 in FreshMatch incentives—a 700% increase compared to November 2024! This represents a nearly $110,000 increase compared to our average monthly distribution for 2025. At the same time, spending of SNAP benefits at the farmers markets decreased by 37% from November 2024 compared to November 2025. The FreshMatch expansion resulted in over 4,200 transactions for the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables at markets throughout the region, with 80% of transactions coming from SNAP shoppers and 20% from furloughed or unpaid federal workers.
We also distributed more than 300 Market Share bags at no cost to SNAP customers and furloughed or unpaid federal workers, ensuring that families continued to have reliable access to fresh, nourishing food when their benefits or paychecks were delayed.
Customers validated the need and impact in their feedback to us. One farmers market customer shared, “My mom and I were able to go to the market and wanted to thank you so much. She is furloughed and I am on SNAP. We got such healthy and vibrant greens and fruits. This genuinely will help us eat while the government continues to block SNAP payments and federal salaries!”
A Market Share customer noted, “Thanks FRESHFARM and all of you who make it happen for those of us who value market-fresh produce! I was so worried about what I would or could do to get the Market Share before the end of the season!”
Strengthening Our Local Food System Together
We are proud that FRESHFARM was able to respond quickly and meaningfully during a moment of real crisis. But this impact is not ours alone; it belongs to everyone involved in the FRESHFARM ecosystem. Customers, farmers and producers, donors and funders, partners, and staff all play a vital role in sustaining a local food system that is resilient, equitable, and community-centered.
This response underscores a broader truth: our regional food system is a nimble and responsive lifeline, especially during emergencies. With nearly four in ten households in the Washington, DC region struggling to access enough food each day—and with funding for essential food access programs constantly under threat—our collective commitment and ability to respond to these needs quickly and effectively is more critical than ever.
Because of the people who make up FRESHFARM, thousands of families were able to put fresh food on their tables when it mattered most. Together, we are building something stronger than any single program: a community that shows up, cares for its neighbors, and ensures that everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
