Humboldt County is home to numerous microclimates, from warm and dry high deserts to cool and foggy coasts and all the river valleys and pasture lands in between. Our region generates a huge variety of locally grown and raised foods and plant starts that are sold at our farmers’ markets and which can be purchased using EBT.
The North Coast Growers’ Association (NCGA) operates 10 certified farmers’ markets throughout Humboldt County, so you’re never far from one of these markets. Humboldt’s first farmers’ market was opened in Arcata in 1978. Today, the Arcata Plaza Farmers’ Market is the longest continually operating certified farmers’ market in the state! Each of NCGA’s farmers’ markets accepts EBT and offers a Market Match.
EBT, or Electronic Benefits Transfer, is what the state of California calls its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly the food stamp program.
Market Match will double up to the first $10 in EBT spending at the farmers’ market.
How does it work?
EBT customers can visit any Market Info booth and ask the market manager to swipe their card for whatever amount they’d like to withdraw. They will receive that many EBT tokens to spend with vendors at the market PLUS up to $10 worth of additional Market Match tokens. All of these tokens can be spent on fresh fruits and veggies as well as plant starts for your garden. EBT specific tokens can also be spent on any other grocery item including meat, cheese, eggs, bread, hot sauce, honey, and more.
To see if you qualify for CalFresh, you can begin your application online at getcalfresh.org – it only takes about 10 minutes! Alternately, all staff at NCGA’s farmers’ markets are trained to assist with CalFresh applications. You can visit the Market Info booth at any market and staff can pre-screen you for eligibility and help start your application on site.
Visit www.northcoastgrowersassociation.org/ebt for more information about EBT benefits and NCGA farmers’ markets.
