Food Access
FRESHFARM believes that fresh, healthy, and local food should be accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic background.
We broaden access to fresh produce and food by offering a wide array of nutrition assistance programs at our markets, and through our gleaning partners who are committed to serving those in our communities experiencing food insecurity.
All FRESHFARM Markets accept SNAP/EBT, WIC and Senior FMNP checks. Our FRESHMATCH program provides a dollar-for-dollar match on all federal benefits spent at market, helping shoppers take home more fresh and nutritious produce and foods.
For a full list of FRESHFARM Markets, visit our market page
If you think you might be eligible for SNAP benefits, use DC Hunger Solutions’ Eligibility Quiz
Reach out to your local office to apply for SNAP:
> Washington, DC SNAP offices https://dhs.dc.gov/service/find-service-center-near-you
> Maryland SNAP offices https://mydhrbenefits.dhr.state.md.us/dashboardclient/#/dssMap
> Virginia SNAP offices
How to Use FRESHMATCH Matching Dollars at Any FRESHFARM Market
If you are a SNAP/EBT participant:
- Go to the information tent at one of our markets
- Swipe your EBT card and choose the amount you’d like to spend
- Get a dollar-for-dollar match on the EBT you spent
- Shop at the market for fresh produce
If you are a WIC or SENIOR FMNP participant:
- Spend your WIC or Senior Checks FMNP with a farmer at one of our markets
- Get a receipt with the amount you spent
- Go to the information tent and show your receipt to market staff
- Get a voucher for the amount you spent (double your spending)
- Shop again to spend the voucher on fresh produce at the market
Other FRESHFARM Food Access & Nutrition Assistance Programs
Veterans Farmers Market Partnership: FRESHFARM partners with the VA Hospital’s Integrative Health and Wellness Unit and the Veteran Community Resource and Referral Center to connect Veterans and Veteran families at risk of diet-related disease to more fresh, healthy food. Veterans who complete nutrition courses at the IWG receive fresh food vouchers redeemable across our network of markets. The program encourages Vets, many of whom are seniors, to visit their local farmers market to find healthy food and community.
Produce Plus: FRESHFARM partners with DC Greens and the DC Department of Health to bring the Produce Plus Program to our markets in Washington D.C. This innovative program, made available by both public and private funding, puts more fresh fruits and vegetables on the table for local families in need, and more money in local farmers’ wallets. Any DC resident who is enrolled in a qualifying program (SNAP/Food Stamps, WIC, Senior Grocery Plus/SFMNP, Medicaid/QMB, SSI Disability, or TANF) is eligible to receive $10 in produce vouchers up to twice a week at participating farmers markets. Learn more about Produce Plus.
Free Summer Meals: Free Summer Meals are available during the summer months at the Columbia Heights Farmers Market because when school is out, thousands of kids who rely on school breakfast, lunch, and snacks for the bulk of their daily calories are at a heightened risk for food insecurity.
FRESH Food Drive: Every November, FRESHFARM hosts our annual FRESH Food Drive. The FRESH Food Drive is a key part of our partnership with our gleaning partners, community organizations in our market neighborhoods who collect leftover produce from the markets each week to feed those in need. Starting in November of each year, we collect donations from shoppers and community members. We then use those donations to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, and turkeys from the market to give to our gleaning partners for their Thanksgiving meals. Across the city, our gleaning partners include DC Central Kitchen, Miriam’s Kitchen, Thrive DC, First Church of Christ Holiness, Iona Senior Services, Arlington Food Assistance Center, and Shepherd’s Table.