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What is SNAP?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, is the largest federal nutrition assistance program. SNAP provides benefits to individuals and families via an Electronic Benefits Transfer card. This card can be used like a debit card to purchase food items. Find out if you are eligible to receive SNAP here. 

Apply online for SNAP here.

 

SNAP Match: 

We provide a dollar-for-dollar SNAP match up to $15 each week from November 5 - April 8, except when the market is closed 11/25 & 12/30. Bring your SNAP card to the Market Manager's booth to receive your match, pay for your order, and/or receive tokens. 

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Examples of how the match works:

- A customer swipes $5 on their SNAP or P-EBT card at the snap booth, the market will match $5, and give a total of $10 tokens to the customer

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- A customer swipes $15 on their SNAP or P-EBT card at the snap booth, the market will match $15, and give a total of $30 tokens to the customer

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Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) 

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The Healthy Incentives Program, or HIP, can help you buy more locally grown fruits and vegetables. When you buy fruits and vegetables with SNAP at participating farmers’ markets, mobile markets, farm stands or Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm share programs, you will earn extra money back onto your SNAP/EBT card.

If you live in Massachusetts and receive SNAP benefits, your household is automatically able to participate in HIP!

What Foods Can I Buy with HIP?
HIP-eligible foods are fresh, canned, dried, or frozen fruits and vegetables without added sugar, salt, fats, or oils. This includes fresh produce, canned tomatoes, applesauce, frozen blueberries, mushrooms, and vegetable seeds and seedlings for your garden!

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Depending on the size of your household you can earn up to:
--$40 for 1-2 member household
--$60 for 3-5 member household
--$80 for 6+ member household
This amount is per month, on top of your regular benefits!

 

More information about the HIP program can be found here. Search for HIP vendors near you here! If you have questions about HIP that are not covered below, or need assistance in another language, call the Project Bread Food Access Hotline at 1-800-645-8333.
 

How to Maximize Your Benefits

We recognize navigating SNAP/HIP benefits is not easy. Here's what we recommend in order to maximize your benefits:

--First, use your HIP money as these funds do not carry over from month to month.

--Second, get the SNAP Match to double your money

--Last, shop the market with your SNAP Match and regular tokens

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