Fruit & Veggie
Savings Programs

We’re expanding the purchasing power of nourishing food for communities across the Bay Area

Our Fruit & Veggie Savings Programs connect community members with greater access to fresh produce from local farmers.

Check out each of the programs below to learn what savings are available for you at our East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market, Richmond Certified Farmers’ Market, and our Mobile Farmers’ Market trucks!

“Our Fruit & Veggie Savings Programs encourage and enable further access to fresh, organic produce for individuals and families. The incentive programs not only allow further affordability for these groups, but they also work to promote attendance to our markets when program participants are searching for places to use them. They help us as an organization reach further into our communities and allow people to purchase more products than they perhaps would have otherwise.”
Raven Wilbur, former Marketing & Food Access Program Specialist

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Market Match?

Market Match is California’s healthy food incentive program, which matches customers’ federal nutrition assistance benefits, like CalFresh/EBT (formerly known as food stamps), at farmers’ markets. When shoppers use their benefits at farmers’ markets, Market Match provides matching funds so that they can buy even more fruits and veggies!

To learn more about the program, visit MarketMatch.org.

Market Match is a program of the Ecology Center and is funded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture through the California Nutrition Incentive Program and by the USDA through the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, as well as other funders.

Is Market Match available at Fresh Approach’s Mobile Farmers’ Markets?

Yes! If you have a CalFresh/EBT benefits card, you’re eligible to receive a 50% discount at any of our mobile farmers’ markets. To participate, show the staff member your CalFresh/EBT card and let them know that you’d like to use Market Match.

Is Market Match available at the East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market and Richmond Certified Farmers’ Market?

Yes! If you withdraw your CalFresh/EBT benefits at the information booth, you’re eligible to receive up to an additional $10 for fresh fruits and veggies at the market with Market Match. You’ll receive CalFresh/EBT scrip (yellow) and Market Match scrip (red). For more information on how to participate, visit the farmers’ market information booth and ask about CalFresh/EBT and Market Match.

What can be purchased with CalFresh/EBT scrip?

With the CalFresh/EBT scrip, you can purchase fruits, veggies, beans, meats, dairy products, rice, bread, nuts, and other staples, as well as seeds to grow your own food. Your CalFresh/EBT scrip cannot be used to purchase hot or prepared foods.

What can be purchased with Market Match scrip?

With the Market Match scrip, you can ONLY purchase fresh fruits and veggies. Change will not be given.

Are there other ways to save money at the Fresh Approach Mobile Farmers’ Markets?

Yes! If you don’t have CalFresh EBT benefits, we can still offer a 50% discount on produce every week for participants that are in the following programs: WIC, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Supplemental Security Disability Income (SSDI), Medi-Cal/Medicaid, low income, unemployment, and membership at a food pantry. To participate, show the staff member proof of participation.

Are there other ways to save money at the East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Maket?

Yes! If you don’t have CalFresh EBT benefits, we can still match your spending up to $10 on produce every week if you’re participating in any of the following programs: WIC, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Supplemental Security Disability Income (SSDI), Medi-Cal, Med-Caid, are a patient at Ravenswood Family Health Center, shop at a food pantry, and/or have a qualifying income equivalent to the federal income standards for SNAP.

You’ll receive Fresh Checks scrip (dark blue) and Market Cash scrip (teal).

To participate, go to the information booth and show a staff member proof of participation.

What can be purchased with Fresh Checks scrip at the East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market?

With the Fresh Checks scrip, you can ONLY purchase fresh fruits and veggies from the farmers at the East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market. Change will not be given.

What can be purchased with Market Cash scrip at the East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market?

With the Market Cash scrip, you can buy any of the products being sold by the vendors and the farmers at the East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market. Change will not be given.

What about the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)?

Yes! We also offer Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) checks. To participate, spend your Senior FMNP checks directly with farmers at their booths, just like cash.

What about Women, Infants, & Children (WIC)?

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides healthy food items to low-income pregnant and postpartum women, and families with infants and children up to 5 years of age. The WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) provides additional checks to WIC participants each summer for fresh fruits and vegetables from a local farmers’ market. We partner with local WIC clinics to distribute these checks at the farmers’ market.

We accept accepts WIC FMNP at the East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market. To participate, spend your WIC checks directly with farmers at their booths, just like cash.

What about VeggieRx Vouchers?

Yes! If you received VeggieRx Vouchers you can spend those at Fresh Approach’s Mobile Farmers’ Markets, the East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market, Richmond Certified Farmers’ Market, and other participating farmers’ markets around the Bay Area.

What can be purchased with VeggieRx Vouchers?

With VeggieRx Vouchers, you can ONLY purchase fresh fruits and veggies. Change will not be given.