Food Access

YOU CAN USE FEDERAL FOOD ASSISTANCE BENEFITS AT OUR FARMERS’ MARKETS

We want everyone in our communities to be able to afford fresh, healthy, locally grown food. We offer a variety of programs that help low-income people buy healthy foods in our markets. The farmers and  producers at our farmers’ markets accept all forms of federal nutrition assistance benefits, including WIC, WIC Cash Value, Senior Grocery Plus (formerly Commodity Supplemental Food Program), and Produce Plus Direct. We also offer Bonus Bucks, which stretch the buying power of your nutrition benefits for fruits, vegetables, meat, cheese and eggs. Together these programs make the market welcoming to all our neighbors.

To learn how to start receiving food assistance benefits, contact DC Hunger Solutions.

WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition (WIC “Get Fresh” and WIC Fruit and Vegetable Cash-Value Checks)

The Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children is for children up to age 5 and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.  Each eligible family member gets $30 in “Get Fresh” Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program checks to be used at farmers’ markets throughout the District. The purple WIC Cash-Value Checks for fruits and vegetables (these come in denominations of $8, $11, and $16.50)  can also be used at farmers’ markets. For more information on WIC, please consult DC’s Dept of Health website. To apply for WIC benefits, click here.

How it works:

For WIC benefits, visit the Market Information tent to inquire about which farmers accept these benefits. When you make a purchase using WIC benefits, the farmer will give you a receipt. Bring the receipt to the information tent and we’ll exchange it for Matching Dollars tokens.

  1. Bring WIC vouchers to the market (check expiration dates!)
  2. Use the voucher to pay farmers directly for fruits and vegetables.

Senior Grocery Plus

District residents age 60 and over can be eligible for the Senior Grocery Plus benefits if they are enrolled in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), which provides food packages to seniors. The Senior Grocery Plus program provides $30 (in the form of six $5 checks) “Get Fresh” checks that can be used to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at some farmers’ markets, including both of ours. For more information, please contact the Department of Aging’s Information, Referral, and Assistance at 202-724-5626.

How it works:

For Senior Farmers Market benefits, visit the Market Information tent to inquire about which farmers accept these benefits. When you make a purchase using Senior Farmers Market benefits, the farmer will give you a receipt. Bring the receipt to the information tent and we’ll exchange it for Matching Dollars tokens.

  1. Bring vouchers to the market (check expiration dates!)
  2. Use the voucher to pay farmers directly for fruits and vegetables.

For more information about WIC “Get Fresh” and WIC Vegetable and Fruit Cash-Value Checks, contact the DC Community Health Administration/WIC State Agency at 202-442-9397.

Produce Plus Direct

Produce Plus Direct is a program funded by the DC Department of Health and administered by DC Greens that provides locally grown, fresh produce to DC residents in areas with limited access to fresh, healthy food. Produce Plus Direct is a 2020 version of the program that has been specifically designed to support safe access to locally grown produce during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Produce plus direct will run from July 14 through September 30, 2020. Through Produce Plus Direct farmers and farmers’ markets will distribute local produce to DC residents through socially distant methods, like grab and go boxes, pre-order, and home deliver. Contact dcgreens.org to sign up: 202-701-9200/info@dcgreens.org.