Cash, tokens, and other ways to pay at farmers markets

All farmers markets accept cash, but many also accept other forms of payment such as those listed below. Refer to the Find a Market pages to see what methods of payment are accepted at each the farmers market in the county.

credit/debit cards

Some markets use a token system that allow you to swipe your credit/debit card in exchange for tokens that the vendors accept like cash. Other markets can point you to a near-by ATM. Many individual vendors may also accept credit/debit cards.

SNAP/ebt/bridge cards

SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is the largest federal nutrition assistance program formerly called food stamps. In Michigan, the Bridge Card is the common name for the electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card used by recipients of federal food assistance benefits. You can use your SNAP Bridge Card at many farmers markets by visiting the market information booth and receiving tokens to spend at the market.

To learn more about whether you may be eligible to receive SNAP benefits or to complete an application, visit the MI Bridges online resource. If you need additional assistance find a list of local navigation partners or search for a community partner near you.

How do I use my SNAP Bridge Card at a farmers market? Most markets have an information booth or office where a staff person can swipe your SNAP Bridge Card. You’ll tell the staff person how much you want to spend from your Bridge Card, and you’ll receive Bridge Card tokens for that amount that you can use to purchase SNAP-eligible food items at the market. Each farmers market issues its own unique Bridge Card tokens – these are worth $1 each, and are generally only good at the market where you received them. Money is deducted from your Bridge Card account the day you get the tokens, whether or not you spend the tokens that day. If you don’t spend all your tokens, you can save them and use them another day. Bridge Card tokens do not expire and can be spent any time during the entire market season or following seasons.

What may be purchased with SNAP tokens? SNAP tokens CAN be used to buy: fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry, fish, cheese, bread, eggs, and seeds or plants to grow vegetables in your own garden. Tokens may not be used to purchase hot food products.

Double up food Bucks

For every $2 of SNAP benefits (food stamps) customers spend at participating farmers markets, customers get $2 of free Double Up Food Bucks to spend on any Michigan grown fruits and vegetables – up to $20 per day the market is open. You can use the tokens right away or save them to use another day. Double Up Food Bucks tokens do not expire so they can be used all season long and even the following years and at other participating farmers markets. Each Double Up token is worth $2 and can be used at any participating farmers market in Michigan. Watch the video to learn how to use your SNAP Bridge Card and Double Up Food Bucks at participating farmers markets. Visit doubleupfoodbucks.org to learn more and find all the locations where you can use the program.

What may be purchased with Double Up tokens? You can spend your Double Up Food Bucks tokens on Michigan grown fresh fruits and vegetables.

When you use your Bridge Card at a participating market, you’ll automatically get an equal value of Double Up Food Bucks tokens, up to $20 per market day.

Wic produce connection

The WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program, formerly known as WIC Project FRESH in Michigan is now called WIC Produce Connection and is managed by Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) WIC office (Women, Infant, and Children). WIC Produce Connection helps to provide healthy and nutritious produce to Michigan WIC clients, while fostering economic development by promoting our state's diverse agricultural products. The program provides low-income, nutritionally-at-risk WIC clients with eligible, locally grown, fresh, unprepared fruits and vegetables from Authorized Growers at farmers markets and roadside stands throughout Michigan.

Beginning in 2024, the program is eliminating the use of paper vouchers by program participants and adding benefits directly onto the participant’s WIC EBT card. Due to this change, each farmer or grower must now apply directly on their own to participate in the program and obtain the ability to process the WIC EBT card. Eligible WIC clients, excluding infants, may receive benefits on their WIC EBT card to be used June 1 through November 30. If you are interested in this program, contact your local WIC office to sign up, or follow this link to learn more. You can reach the Washtenaw County WIC Office at (734) 544-6800.

What may be purchased with WIC Produce Connection benefits? WIC Produce Connection benefits can only be used to buy eligible locally grown, fresh, unprepared fruits and vegetables for human consumption from Authorized Growers. WIC clients are encouraged to use all their benefits during the season. They are encouraged to buy a variety of produce rich in vitamins A, C and folic acid.

How Do WIC Participants Know Which Growers and Roadside Stands Are Authorized? To assist clients, all Authorized Growers should display a sign stating: "WIC Produce Connection/WIC CVB Benefits Accepted Here" at their stands.

Can I use my WIC Cash Value Benefits (CVB) at the market? With WIC CVB, any variety of fresh fruits or vegetables without added sugars, fats or oils; whole, cut, bagged or pre-packages; cilantro and parsley or pie pumpkins from Authorized Growers and roadside stands. WIC clients are encouraged to use their benefits during the season to help meet their nutritional needs.

senior project FRESH

The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, known as Senior Project Fresh in Michigan, provides older adults who qualify, with $25 in coupons to purchase unprocessed, Michigan-grown products from participating farmers markets and roadside farm stands throughout Michigan. Program coupons are accepted at participating farmers markets from June 1 – October 31 every year. To qualify for the program an individual must be: 60 years of age or older and have a total household income of 185% of the poverty line or less. Enrollment for 2024 season is now full. Contact Tedi Milgrom at (734) 492-0505 or milgromt@washtenaw.org with any questions. If you live outside Washtenaw County, follow this link to learn more and find the lead agency contact for your county.

What may be purchased with Senior Project Fresh coupons? Eligible items include Michigan grown fresh fruits, vegetables, fresh cut herbs, and honey.

SENIOR MARKET BUCKS

Senior Market Bucks, a program administered through St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea, encourages seniors to eat better and to make healthy food choices. The program provides local seniors with coupons to purchase qualifying food items at participating farmers markets. To be eligible for the program, participants must be 60 years of age or older and live in Washtenaw County. The program operates from June – October 31 every year in Chelsea, Dexter, and Manchester and from November - early December in Dexter and Chelsea.

What may be purchased with Senior Market Bucks? Eligible items include fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, dairy, meat, poultry, fish, and honey.

prescription for health

The Prescription for Health program connects patients from select health clinics to the farmers market. Health care providers write "prescriptions" for their patients to eat more fruits and vegetables, then patients pick up an enrollment packet at participating farmers markets and receive tokens to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as fruit/vegetable plants. This program operates from June – December. Individuals must be referred for this program by a participating health clinic. To see if your clinic participates in Prescription for Health, or find out more, click here!

FMR- Regional Food Assistance program

This program is funded by 5 Healthy Towns Foundation and is designed to reach those who don't quite qualify for SNAP benefits but are still struggling to put food on the table. It is first come first serve with a total of $100 per person per season. To apply, receive and spend coupons, inquire at the following farmers markets: Chelsea, Grass Lake, Manchester and Stockbridge.

Inter-market token use

Washtenaw County markets participate in many token programs, all with their own specific rules. Some of these may be used at multiple markets, but not all. If a token has the name of the market on it, it is most likely only good at that market. Ask the market team for help understanding how to use the tokens you have!

Leftover tokens

Please note that some programs have expiration dates. Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH coupons and Prescription for Health coupons can only be used during the calendar year that you receive them. However, SNAP tokens and Double Up Food Bucks tokens do not expire. You can bring them back to the market from week-to-week or even season-to-season to spend at the market.