FRESHFARM Markets
Promoting food with a face, a place and
a taste in the Chesapeake Bay region




EBT/WIC PROGRAMS

EBT/WIC En Español

It’s important to FRESHFARM Markets that local and fresh produce is available to all people, regardless of income and/or financial stability. We encourage our farmers and producers to participate, and we work with local agencies to promote the programs throughout the market season.

1. WIC “Get Fresh” Farmers Market Nutrition Program (WIC FMNP)

WIC (Women, Infants and Children) FMNP “Get Fresh” checks are specifically for purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables at all authorized farmers markets (at this time, regular WIC coupons cannot be used at farmers markets).
  • You must be enrolled in the WIC program to be eligible to receive “Get Fresh” checks. Under the “Get Fresh” Program, WIC recipients receive checks to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • These checks may only be used between:
    • May 1 - November 15 in DC
    • June 1 – October 30 in Maryland
“Get Fresh” check recipients can only use their checks at an authorized farmer’s stand; these stands display a large sign stating that they accept “Get Fresh” WIC FMNP checks.

For more information about “Get Fresh” WIC FMNP, please call:
DC: 1-800-345-1942 (DC WIC office)
Maryland: 1-800-492-5590 (MD Department of Agriculture)

2. Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Coupons (Senior FMNP)
The purpose of the SFMNP is to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to senior citizens of the District of Columbia and Maryland who are eligible for Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). The program expands the awareness and use of farmers' markets and, also supports and promotes the daily consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.

  • Seniors (60 years +) who receive CSFP benefits are eligible to participate in the SFMNP. Under the SFMNP, recipients receive checks to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from an authorized farmer’s stand; these farmers display a large sign stating that they accept SFMNP checks.
  • These checks may only be used between:
  • May 1 - November 15 in DC
  • June 1 – October 30 in Maryland
For information on Senior FMNP coupons, please call:
DC: 1-800-645-5518 (DC Department of Health)
Maryland: 1-800-492-5590 (MD Department of Agriculture)

For details on which FRESHFARM Markets farmers accept WIC and Seniors FMNP, call 202-362-8889

3. EBT/Food Stamps

In 2008 FRESHFARM Markets implemented Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT, aka Food Stamps) programs at two of our markets: H Street, NE and Silver Spring, MD.

It's easy to use your Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)/Food Stamps to buy fresh, healthy produce and other foods at the H Street NE and Silver Spring, MD FRESHFARM Markets.  
  • To use your benefits, simply go to the Market Information Tent, tell the staff how much money you would like to spend, and they will swipe your EBT card for the amount you request.  You’re then given your requested amount in $1.00 tokens.
  • You cannot use your EBT tokens to buy flowers or other non-food items, and no change can be given.
  • If you don’t use all your tokens that day, you can save them to use another day, but only at the market from which they were purchased. If they’re lost, we can’t replace them.
To see if you qualify for EBT/Food Stamps, contact:

If you have questions about using any of these payment methods at our markets, please contact Bernie Prince, DC Markets and WIC/EBT Program Manager, at 202-362-8889 or bernieprince@freshfarmmarkets.org
P.O. Box 15691, Washington, DC 20003    tel 202.362.8889    fax 202.244.2131    info@freshfarmmarkets.org