Each season FRESHFARM makes updates to FreshMatch policies based on client feedback, budget restrictions, and organizational capacity.
2025 FreshMatch Policy Update
Starting May 1st, FRESHFARM is capping all SNAP FreshMatch incentive matching to $10 per shopper per day. This policy change applies to all FRESHFARM and non-FF FreshMatch partner markets.
Why is this happening?
This change is being made in response to dramatic shifts in the federal funding landscape for food access programming. For nearly a decade, FRESHFARM has used USDA grant funding to incentivize SNAP spending on fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers markets.Unfortunately, the USDA is not currently offering an application for renewed funding for SNAP incentives at farmers markets. Nor has the agency shared plans or information about if or how it may fund SNAP farmers market incentive projects in the future.As a result, FRESHFARM is reducing the cap on SNAP incentives so that we can stretch our current funding for as long as possible. We are closely monitoring updates from the USDA regarding the continuation of food access funding opportunities and working to identify new sources of funding.
Are there limits to how much SNAP shoppers can redeem at markets?
No. Customers are free to convert as much of their SNAP benefits into coupons as they wish, but the amount of incentive dollars that FRESHFARM can distribute is capped at $10 per shopper per day. For example, a $10 transaction will result in $10 in purple SNAP coupons and $10 in white FreshMatch coupons, a $30 transaction will result in $30 in purple SNAP coupons and $10 in white FreshMatch coupons, and so on.
2024 FreshMatch Policy Update
Effective March 1, 2024 FRESHFARM’s FreshMatch coupons- SNAP Bonus (white coupons) and FMNP Bonus (red coupons)- will only be eligible for fresh fruit and vegetable (F&V) purchases across all of our farmers markets and farm stands.
Within USDA GusNIP Nutrition Incentive projects, “fruits and vegetables” are defined as “any variety of fresh, canned, dried, or frozen whole or cut fruits and vegetables without added sugars, fats, or oils, and salt (i.e. sodium)”. This includes microgreens, mushrooms, seedlings and food-producing plants. You can continue to purchase these foods with your matching coupons at participating FRESHFARM farmers markets and farm stands.
FRESHFARM regularly assesses how to make the best use of our resources to provide food access services, such as FreshMatch. This change will allow us to meet the needs of the greatest number of people based on our current funding.
Please note that FreshMatch coupon and purchase eligibility could change again in the future. FRESHFARM remains committed to keeping our community members informed about FreshMatch. Any coupon and purchase eligibility changes will be shared with customers online and at market.
