Food Access Programming

Union Square Farmers Market is proud to facilitate food access programming within the market through multiple nutritional incentive programs, both locally and at the state level. For more in-depth information on food assistance programming at farmers markets in Massachusetts, head to this webpage created by Mass Farmers Markets.

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) & SNAP Match

Union Square Farmers Market uses a SNAP token system, helping shoppers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) use their EBT and SUN Bucks cards to purchase eligible products from market vendors. USFM prioritizes vendors who sell SNAP-eligible goods, noted on each week’s market map and the season’s vendor list with a + sign. SNAP eligible products include fruits & vegetables, dairy, meat, seafood, bread, and pantry items such as hot sauce, jams, and honey.

Shoppers can head to the blue Market Manager’s tent (located next to the Old Firehouse at 90 Union Square) to swipe their SNAP/EBT card for any amount in exchange for tokens to spend at the market, similar to swiping a debit card at the ATM for cash.

USFM offers a SNAP Match program, in which shoppers receive a dollar-for-dollar match up to $15 per week, in the form of SNAP tokens for use at the Union Square Farmers Market. Shoppers may withdraw more than $15 at a time, however the match amount is limited to $15 per week.

Examples of how the SNAP Match works:

• Shopper withdraws $10 from SNAP benefits and USFM provides a $10 match, the shopper is given $20 in market tokens to spend with eligible vendors

• Shopper withdraws $15 from SNAP benefits and USFM provides a $15 match, the shopper is given $30 in market tokens to spend with eligible vendors

• Shopper withdraws $30 from SNAP benefits and USFM provides a $15 match, the shopper is given $45 in market tokens to spend with eligible vendors

Thanks to the City of Somerville's Office of Food Access and Healthy Communities and neighbors and community members for ensuring the SNAP Match program continues at USFM. This program matched $21,173 in SNAP tokens during the 2025 season, supplementing the food budget of 1,500+ families.

Healthy Incentives Program (HIP)

The Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) is a Massachusetts program that provides extra funds on a monthly basis for the purchase of fruits and vegetables at participating farms. You do not need to sign up for this program: if you live in Massachusetts and get SNAP benefits, you are automatically able to participate in HIP. Farms at USFM who are authorized to run HIP purchases are noted on each week’s market map and the season’s vendor list with a ** sign.

HIP is a reimbursement program, meaning you need a positive SNAP balance of any amount, even a penny ($0.01), in order to utilize this benefit. The amount of HIP you can use each month depends on your SNAP household size:

• Households of 1-2 people have a $40 monthly HIP amount

• Households of 3-5 people have a $60 monthly HIP amount

• Households of 6+ people have a $80 monthly HIP amount

HIP benefits do not roll over month to month.

Utilize HIP benefits at the point of sale with HIP-eligible farms. An example of a HIP purchase:

1. Shopper picks out $20 worth of fruits and vegetables from an eligible farm

2. At the checkout, shopper gives farmer their EBT card and lets them know they would like to make a purchase using HIP

3. Farmer swipes shopper’s EBT card and charges $20 of HIP benefits (not SNAP)

4. Transaction is complete!

If shopper’s monthly HIP amount is $40, they are able to purchase an additional $20 worth of vegetables using this program until the end of the month. The shopper’s EBT balance is not charged for a HIP transaction.

Farmers Market Nutrition Program: Senior and WIC Coupons

The Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) is a state-run program that provides coupons to low-income individuals and families to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. This program provides paper coupons to low-income seniors and WIC (Women, Infant, & Children) participants and runs July through October.

Senior Coupons are typically distributed in local senior centers and can be used to purchase fruit, vegetables, and honey.

WIC Coupons are distributed by local WIC offices to current WIC participants and can be used to purchase fruit and vegetables. The Cambridge/Somerville WIC Office distributes coupons to participants already enrolled in the WIC program at USFM one market each year, scheduled for July 25 in the 2026 season.

Navigating your food access benefits can be confusing!

USFM hires market staff who are specially trained to help shoppers navigate using these programs at the market. Head to the blue Market Manager’s Tent (located next to the Old Firehouse at 90 Union Square) to speak to one of USFM’s Multilingual SNAP Facilitators about using your benefits to shop the market. Facilitators are happy to answer your questions and point you in the right direction.

USFM employs two SNAP Facilitators who alternate weeks at the market and are fluent in the following languages in addition to English: Cantonese, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Spanish. French facilitation is also available on a limited basis.

USFM raises funds to support the administrative costs behind food access programming at the market, including hiring the market’s Multilingual SNAP Facilitators. Please consider donating to ensure that this programming remains accessible to all of USFM’s shoppers.

Want to learn more about the importance of food access and culture at USFM? Read a 2025 Op-Ed from Claudia Chung, Multilingual SNAP Facilitator since 2022, published in The Somerville Times: Union Square Farmers Market: The Community’s Love Language.