Did you know that your food stamps can be used to purchase food at local farmers’ markets in Staten Island, NY? In addition, If you get SNAP benefits in New York City, you can get extra money for fresh fruits and vegetables. Every time you spend $2 of your SNAP benefits at a farmers market, you will get a $2 coupon that you can spend on fruits and vegetables. In this article, we will provide you with the complete list of all Farmers’ Markets that accept EBT in Staten Island, including those offering the $2 farmers’ market coupons.
Additionally, we will explain how to use your EBT card at farmers’ markets, including those that use tokens as payment.
Lastly, we will provide the list of eligible items you can purchase with your New York EBT card at farmers’ markets.
To find out which farmers markets accept EBT in Staten Island and how you can double your food stamps benefits, then continue reading below.
Do Farmers Markets in New York City accept Food Stamps?
Yes, there are many farmers’ markets that accept food stamps and SNAP EBT benefits in New York City. That means you can use your New York SNAP EBT Card to purchase fresh, local vegetables, produce, meats, and other food items at your local farmers’ market.
In fact, many farmers’ markets in New York City even offer a nutrition incentive program that doubles your SNAP EBT dollars.
This nutrition incentive program is known as Healthy Bucks.
To learn more about Healthy Bucks and how you can get free food at your local New York City farmers market, continue reading below.
Double your SNAP EBT Dollars at Farmers Markets in New York City
The best reason to shop with your food stamps at a farmer’s market in New York City is that you can get double the food you get for what you pay for.
When you use your food stamps at a farmers’ market in New York City, you can get an extra $10 of free, fresh produce when you spend $10 with your SNAP EBT Card.
Here are three reasons why you should use your New York EBT Card and food stamp benefits at Farmers’ Markets:
- Produce may cost less than at the grocery store
- Farmers’ Market produce is grown locally and fresh
- You help support the local Florida economy and small farms
What is NYC Health Bucks?
Health Bucks are $2 coupons sponsored by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene that can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at all NYC farmers markets.
It is a nutrition incentive program that aims to increase the purchasing power of food stamp recipients by doubling their SNAP EBT dollars at eligible farmers’ markets.
This incentive stretches a SNAP budget and encourages shoppers to spend more of their monthly food assistance allotment on fresh produce from the market.
Additionally, the Health Bucks program helps residents of low-income neighborhoods increase their consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Beginning in 2021, spend $2 in SNAP/EBT/P-EBT, and receive a bonus of $2 Health Buck up to $10 per visit!
How do I get Health Bucks Farmer’s market coupons?
Anyone who currently receives SNAP benefits in NYC is eligible for Health Bucks.
Is there an application for Health Bucks?
You don’t need to apply to get Health Bucks if you get SNAP benefits.
For every $2 you spend at farmers markets using SNAP on an EBT card, you can automatically get $2 in Health Bucks
You may also get Health Bucks for taking part in certain workshops or demonstrations at farmers markets
For Farmers Markets locations in Staten Island that accept EBT and offer Health Bucks, see below.
Farmers’ Markets that accept EBT in Staten Island (plus Health Bucks)
Below is a list of all farmers’ markets in Staten Island that accept SNAP EBT and also offer $2 Health Bucks (you can get up to $10 in Health Bucks per visit).
For each farmers’ market listed below, we have provided the address, days, and hours of operation.
Additionally, we have highlighted those that are open Year-Round.
Children’s Aid Society Go! Healthy Food Box + Farmstand – Goodhue Center
304 Prospect Ave.
Tuesday (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.)
Year-Round Farmers Market
St. George Greenmarket
Hyatt St. & St. Marks Pl.
Saturday (8 a.m. – 2 p.m.)
(winter closes at 1 p.m.)
Year-Round Farmers Market
Staten Island Mall Greenmarket
Marsh Ave. & Ring Rd.
Saturday (8 a.m. – 3 p.m.)
What can you buy at Farmers Markets with EBT?
New York EBT Cardholders can use their food stamps at farmers markets to buy:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Bread
- Cereals
- Baked goods
- Meat
- Fish
- Poultry
- Milk
- Eggs
- Cheese
- Jams
- Jelly
- Honey
- Seeds, and plants that produce food.
What you cannot buy with New York SNAP EBT:
You cannot use your New York EBT card to purchase:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Tobacco products
- Vitamins
- Supplements
- Live animals (except shellfish)
- Pet food
- Household supplies
- Cleaning products
- Prepared food items
For more help with what you can and cannot buy, get a complete list of all the SNAP EBT Eligible Food Items here.
How to use your EBT Card at Farmers Markets
Shopping with your EBT Card at a farmers’ market is easy!
Just like at a grocery store, you will select the SNAP-approved food items you wish to purchase.
When you are ready to purchase, you will hand the vendor your New York EBT Card.
They will then run your EBT Card through their point-of-sale machine to complete the transaction.
Next, you will also be asked to provide your 4-digit EBT Card PIN.
Once the transaction has been successfully approved, you are all complete!
Tokens at some farmers’ markets
Some farmers’ markets use tokens as payments Here’s how it works:
- Bring your SNAP EBT card to the Market Manager’s tent.
- Swipe your EBT card for the amount of market tokens you wish to buy. Some markets have color-coded tokens for SNAP and Non-SNAP eligible items.
- For every $2 SNAP EBT token, you get a FREE $2 Health Bucks Coupon up $10 per visit.
- Go shopping! Use your tokens to make your purchases directly from vendors around the market, including healthy, delicious fresh produce.
Can I use my New York SNAP EBT Card to make purchases online?
Yes. New York is one of 46 states to expedite the implementation of SNAP online purchasing in response to COVID-19.
Allowing for SNAP online purchases supports New Yorkers in meeting their nutrition needs while adhering to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for prevention measures against COVID-19.
Which stores can I shop online with my New York SNAP card?
While most grocery stores in New York accept EBT or SNAP benefits in stores, using EBT cards for online grocery ordering and delivery is becoming a popular option.
The following 14 vendors in New York accept SNAP EBT online:
- ALDI
- Amazon
- BJs Wholesale Club
- Ferreira Foodtown
- Food Bazaar
- Foodtown-Freshtown
- Hannaford
- Manhattan Fruit Market
- My Foodtown
- Price Chopper Supermarkets
- ShopRite
- Stop & Shop
- Tops Market
- Walmart
Additionally, as you can see from the list, you can purchase groceries online on Amazon. See our Amazon Grocery Online Guide here.
How Do I Pay for Non-SNAP items?
You can split the purchases between your New York EBT Card and another form of payment.
The online retailer systems are required to allow only SNAP-eligible items to be charged to your SNAP EBT Card.
The cardholder must follow instructions on the retailer’s online system to pay for non-food items with other payment methods, like a credit or debit card.
Useful tips for using New York SNAP benefits to shop online
Below is a list of helpful tips on using your New York EBT Card to shop online:
- New York SNAP benefits may only be used to purchase food items. For a list of SNAP-eligible items, click here.
- SNAP benefits cannot be used to pay for delivery fees.
- If you already have an account with any of the retailers above, including Amazon, be sure to update the form of payment to link your New York EBT Card.
- You do not need an Amazon Prime membership to use your New York EBT Card on Amazon.
- Other retailers will be joining the program in the future. For the latest information, visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/online-purchasing-pilot.
Farmers’ Markets that accept EBT in Staten Island Summary
We hope this post on the Farmers’ Markets that accept EBT in Staten Island was helpful to you!
If you have more questions about your New York EBT or SNAP Benefits, please let us know in the comments section below.
For more help on what and where you can use your New York EBT Card, check out our other articles here:
What Fast Food Restaurants Take EBT in New York?
How to Use New York EBT Online at Amazon
Get Free Admissions with New York EBT Card
How to Get a Free Phone With New York Food Stamps