Double Your Dollars With Virginia Fresh Match

Virginia Fresh Match (VFM) is a statewide network of farmers markets, mobile markets, and community food stores with the goal to make fresh food more affordable. VFM has been helping people in Virginia communities since 2015! The foundation of VFM is to create healthy and accessible food systems by offering nutrition incentives that double the value of SNAP dollars spent on fruits and vegetables at VFM locations.

Why It Matters
With over 250 farmer’s markets in Virginia, about half of them accept SNAP. Despite this move in a positive direction, only 20% of SNAP money spent by Virgininians goes to farmers markets. Having more SNAP dollars being spent on fresh produce would be a win-win: SNAP shoppers have access to more affordable fresh produce, farmers get to keep farming by earning extra income and more money stays in the local economy which builds stronger communities. Besides, who doesn’t want an excuse to go to a farmers market? They are so much fun!

How It Works
Virginia Fresh Match makes it possible to buy more fruits and vegetables by spending SNAP/EBT or P-EBT. All it takes is three easy steps!
1. Look up some local farmers markets in your area that accept SNAP and are VFM partners. Use this locator to find a market.
2. Find produce that appeals to you.
3. Swipe your SNAP/EBT card and double your dollars on fresh produce!

By swiping, you automatically get half off on fruits and vegetables sold at farmers markets that accept SNAP. Other places you can get half off with SNAP include farm stands, community retailers, and mobile markets. Just make sure they accept SNAP!

The Benefits
The American Heart Association advises having four servings of fruit and five servings of vegetables per day. Even if you are already doing so, you could be saving money by buying the same amount of produce for less at a VFM location. By checking out a farmers market location that is a Virginia Fresh Match partner, you could discover a new, in season, fresh fruit or vegetable. Who knows, it could become a favorite!

We hope you check out a farmers market location in your area. Look to see if they are a Virginia Fresh Match locations and double your SNAP dollars on fresh fruits and vegetables.

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Written by Marisa Mazari and Morgan Gregg, MS