CONTRIBUTE TO MFM’S FUND TO MATCH STATE EBT DOLLARS

Midtown Farmers Market was the first market to accept EBT in the state of Minnesota in 2006, setting precedence and inspiring other farmers markets to do the same to better serve our community. In our current political climate in which SNAP-EBT funding is under threat, many of our community members who rely on this critical resource are falling through the cracks. This is why we decided to launch a fundraiser for "Midtown Bucks". Midtown Bucks is a community funded program to better meet our community's current needs for EBT funding.

FEDERAL DOLLARS LOST IN 2026 FOR SNAP-EBT RECIPIENTS

This season, the federal government did not renew funding for Produce Bucks, which has historically encouraged local spending on healthy, fresh foods at the farmers market. Community members who have come to rely on their EBT being matched with produce bucks and market bucks are now only receiving a fraction of the amount they have received in previous years. With the rising cost of food, it is getting harder and harder for low-income neighbors to feed themselves and their families.

Last year, we also found out that under MN State regulation, there is no EBT produce/market bucks matching at the farmers market for folks who receive EBT-Cash benefits. This came as a huge blow to our EBT-Cash recipients, who have just as a need for fresh food as those who EBT-Food benefits. Often, it is elders and large families that receive EBT-Cash. It's been frustrating and heartbreaking to turn folks away when they are still in need for these resources to shop at the market.

MORE HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST

Midtown Bucks would allow us to continue to match EBT users, regardless of their EBT Food or EBT Cash status. As our EBT funding future looks unreliable nationwide, Midtown Bucks is an opportunity for us to explore consistent funding sources rooted in community care, rather than a reliance on the federal government, which has again and again, proven not to serve us. We don't think it's fair or just that low-income folks aren't allotted the resources they need to be an active member of our marketspace. Accessibility is an important value at our market, and we know that it hurts our community and our vendors when everyone, including those underserved, are not able to access fresh foods and participate in our local economy.

We're asking for your help-- will you pay it forward to protect local food access for our most marginalized neighbors?

On average, we process $400 in EBT transactions per Saturday. For 26 markets, May through October, we're hoping to fundraise $10,000 to fund Midtown Bucks. We're tired of waiting around for solutions, and we're eager to put our wallets and hearts together to better care for our community in need. Your money will go towards:

EBT-SNAP matching for produce bucks (an additional $10 to spend at the market)
EBT-CASH matching for market bucks and produce bucks
Any Midtown Bucks left over after EBT users are accounted for will be given away to our unhoused neighbors to spend at the market.

Protect Food Access at Midtown Farmers Market