We believe in affordable, year-round access to local foods for all, regardless of income or background. Our food access programs connect underserved communities with nutritious food grown by local farmers and food producers, improving food security while uplifting our local food system.
SNAP/EBT
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps, helps individuals and families purchase food. SNAP benefits are loaded onto an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which can be used at grocery stores, participating farmers’ markets, farm stands, and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs.
Through incentive programs like Granite State Market Match, Maine Harvest Bucks, and Community Bonus Bucks, your SNAP dollars can go even further, helping you bring home more nutritious food while supporting our local farmers and food producers.
» Click here to learn more about using SNAP for local food.
Granite State Market Match
At participating farmers’ markets, SNAP customers can receive a dollar-to-dollar match on all EBT purchases with Granite State Market Match (GSMM) fruit and vegetable vouchers, and at participating farm stands they can get 50% off fruits and vegetables.
» Click here to learn more GSMM
Maine Harvest Bucks
Maine Harvest Bucks is available at farmers’ markets, CSAs, and farm stands across Maine. The program operates slightly differently depending on which “outlet type” – farmers’ market, CSA, or farm stand – you shop at.
- At farmers’ markets, shoppers will get a 50% match of their SNAP/EBT transaction to purchase fruits and vegetables.
- For CSAs and farm stands, shoppers usually get a 50% discount on their fruit and vegetable purchases equivalent to the current Maine Harvest Bucks match.
» Click here to learn more about Maine Harvest Bucks
Community Bonus Bucks
Community Bonus Bucks (CBB) is a partnership between Seacoast Eat Local and Bangor Savings Bank to offer an additional dollar-to-dollar match to SNAP participants. This program hopes to further stretch the buying power of low-income households.
» Click here to learn more about Community Bonus Bucks
WiseWoman Produce Prescription Program
Lamprey Health Care and Seacoast Eat Local are working together to help patients access fresh fruits and vegetables at Seacoast farmers’ markets by offering produce subscription vouchers. If you qualify, your provider may provide up to two $20 vouchers to use at any Seacoast Eat Local farmers’ market. These vouchers can be exchanged for Market Money to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers.
» Click here to learn how to use WISE
Voucher for Veterans
We are proud to partner with Vouchers for Veterans (VFV), a food access program honoring American Veterans and active duty service members in New Hampshire and Maine by providing farmers market vouchers to buy food directly from local farmers and food producers.
At participating summer farmers markets during the month of September, Veterans may receive $20 in vouchers once per week, between Sunday and Saturday. At winter farmers markets beginning in November and continuing through April, Veterans may receive $20 in vouchers at every participating market.
» Click here to learn about Vouchers for Veterans
Food Recovery
Through our food recovery program, Seacoast Eat Local works closely with our network of farmers and producers to glean hundreds of pounds of local produce at our markets each year to benefit food banks and community fridges.