The Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance (NFMA) promotes the use of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards (food stamps) at area farmers markets. Now, NFMA is giving EBT users $10 in Market Bucks per day when they purchase at least $10 with their EBT cards. The promotion runs from this Wednesday through Oct.10.
The Market Bucks are unrestricted cash equivalents in $2 increments, and may be used at any of the NFMAโs seven neighborhood farmers markets until December 31st, 2010. โWeโve seen a dramatic increase in EBT use at our markets, up 60-200% at some of our larger markets like the U-District and West Seattle. But these customers are still a fraction of our customer base. Itโs been a hard season for farmers, and many people are still out of work, so this is a way for us to support both groups,โ says Chris Curtis, Executive Director of the NFMA.
EBT users can take advantage of the promotion at this Fridayโs Phinney Farmers Market (the last in Phinney for the season) from 3-7 p.m., and the following other farmers markets:
- Columbia City Farmers Market, Wednesdays, 3-7 p.m.: Sept. 29 and Oct. 6
- Lake City Farmers Market, Thursdays, 3-7 p.m.: Sept. 30 and Oct. 7
- U-District Farmers Market, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.: Oct. 2 and 9
- West Seattle Farmers Market, Sundays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Oct. 3 and 10
- Broadway Farmers Market, Sundays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Oct. 3 and 10