End Hunger CT!’s Connecticut Fresh Match Program allows SNAP recipients to double the fruits and vegetables they purchase at participating farmers’ markets across the State. When SNAP recipients shop at participating farmers’ markets, Connecticut Fresh Match doubles SNAP, allowing households to stretch their benefits, incorporate more fresh produce into their diets, and support local farmers. Markets match SNAP with tokens or coupons to be spent on fruits and vegetables. Matched benefits can be spent that day or can be saved for a future market purchase at many participating locations.
When shoppers spend SNAP/EBT at participating markets, we allow markets to increase their customers’ purchasing power. Stretching is a SNAP! Here’s how it works:
This video was recorded pre-COVID
There are over 30 individual markets in Connecticut that are participating in our SNAP-doubling program. Find out more about a location near you using the map below.
NOTE: Please double check a location’s website for the most up-to-date information.
Enter your address in the search box to find a location near you.
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End Hunger CT!’s Connecticut Fresh Match Program allows SNAP recipients to double the fruits and vegetables they purchase at participating farmers’ markets across the State. When SNAP recipients shop at participating farmers’ markets, Connecticut Fresh Match doubles SNAP, allowing households to stretch their benefits, incorporate more fresh produce into their diets, and support local farmers. Markets match SNAP with tokens or coupons to be spent on fruits and vegetables. Matched benefits can be spent that day or can be saved for a future market purchase at many participating locations.
Fruits and vegetables are the only products eligible at Farmer’s Markets for SNAP doubling under the Fresh Match program. Select markets participate in True Match, which allows for the doubling of meats, cheese, and dairy in addition to fresh produce.
Unless a market has a specific rule against this, you can keep your matched benefits for a future trip to the market. If you decide to spend $10 with SNAP, you will receive an additional 10 tokens, allowing you to buy up to $20 worth of produce. You do not have to spend all 10 tokens in that day.
No, the markets that participate in SNAP doubling under our program all operate under the same policy. There are a couple of different ways to describe what CT Fresh Match is doing: it allows you to get 50% off produce, you get double the produce for half of the price, or you get buy one get one at no additional cost. There is no one market that gives a better deal, all markets are matching produce with SNAP dollar for dollar. Please note that not every market accepting SNAP in CT is also doubling. Some markets may be doubling on their own or through a different program, and we cannot speak to their operations. For a list of all markets specifically participating in CT Fresh Match, please visit our website.
On our website under our Farmers Market page, there will be a map of the over 30 participating markets. All you have to do is type in your area code and it displays locations near you! For those who work traditional weekday hours, many markets are open on Saturdays. For those who work non-traditional hours and weekends, many markets operate during the week in the morning and afternoon. For additional information, visit our website.
Fill out this application with your market and contact information to see if your market is eligible for our program. If accepted, you will undergo training on how to report your SNAP purchase data. Funding is first come, first served, so if you are interested, please reach out. Your market’s participation would ensure that food is being distributed more equitably throughout the state and increasing access to healthy, local food for those who may not otherwise have access without SNAP-doubling.
Reimbursement comes from End Hunger Connecticut! Through a federal GUSNIP grant, in partnership with Farm Fresh Rhode Island. It is a full reimbursement for every dollar matched with SNAP for the month. This makes it imperative that your data is accurate so that your vendors are reimbursed properly. If your market is not within a network of markets, the check will go directly to your market. If your market operates under an umbrella network, the network manager will receive the reimbursement and then distribute it to all markets under that umbrella. If you are not a market enrolled in the program and this sounds confusing, do not worry you will receive a full reporting training once we review your application.
If you are a market already participating in CT Fresh Match, a daily reporting template as well as instructions have been shared with you. The template details total operating hours, number of vendors, number of SNAP incentives issued, number of SNAP incentives redeemed, and number of customers who used SNAP during the day. If you are a market looking to partner with CT Fresh Match, do not worry, you will be briefed on all things reporting and operating once your application is approved.