Benefits for Shoppers

The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program or “FMNP” provides $80 per year to eligible Seniors so they can buy fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey at farmers markets and farm stands. In 2024, 28,688 Seniors bought over $2 million worth of fresh produce from nearly 450 farmers at 129 farmers markets and 87 farm stands.

Have Senior FMNP benefits?

Where you can use Senior FMNP: At any farmers market or farm stand that is participating in the Farmers Market Nutrition Program. You can search for a farmers market online or pick up a 2025 Farmers Market Directory. Look for the “WIC & Senior FMNP” logo.

When you’re at the farmers market: Look for farm vendors that have the “WIC & Senior FMNP” or “Senior FMNP” sign on their booth.

What can you buy? Fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, or honey.

Electronic Benefits: In 2023, FMNP switched from a paper check to an electronic benefit. You will get a “Senior FMNP” card that looks like a credit card. It as a “QR code” (or square with a black and white design in it) on it.

How to pay: When you go to pay at the farmer’s booth, show them your Senior Card. They will then scan the card and ask you for your PIN number. Enter your PIN. Then the farmer will enter the amount to pay and the money will be deducted from your Senior FMNP benefits.

What’s my balance? To find out what your balance is, you can call Customer Service at (800) 841-1410, then select “0.”

Senior app:There is also an app available for free that you can download. The Senior FMNP app has more information. You can track your benefit balance, see what you bought, learn more about your available benefits, and locate Senior FMNP markets using the app. More information is available here.

Does Senior FMNP expire? Yes, Senior FMNP must be used by Oct 31. Benefits do not roll over.

Interested in getting Senior FMNP benefits?

How to apply: Seniors must apply each spring to receive Senior FMNP benefits. Applications are available from local organizations such as Meals on Wheels, Senior Centers, and Resource Centers. Please see the Senior FMNP’s Local Contact List to find out where to apply in your community. And be sure to check the application deadline!

Who is eligible: Washington residents age 60 or older and Native Americans/Alaska Natives age 55 or older with a monthly income below 185% of the federal poverty level are eligible for Senior FMNP benefits.

Website: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/home-and-community-services/senior-farmers-market-nutrition-program

FMNP Brochure in English and Spanish (Dept of Health, 2025)

Senior FMNP Frequently Asked Questions in English, Spanish, and other languages (DSHS FAQ, 2 pages)

Contact: Cameron Akita, Program Manager, State Unit on Aging, Aging and Long-Term Support Administration, WA State Department of Social and Health Services

Phone: (360) 725-2466 or (800) 422-3263

The WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program or “FMNP” provides $30 to $90 per year to people participating in the Women, Infants & Children or WIC program. In 2024, families with WIC bought nearly $560,000 worth of fresh produce from nearly 450 farmers at 129 farmers markets and 87 farm stands.

Have WIC FMNP benefits?

Where can you use WIC FMNP? At any farmers market or farm stand that is participating in the Farmers Market Nutrition Program. You can search for a farmers market online or pick up a 2025 Farmers Market Directory. Look for the “WIC & Senior FMNP” logo.

When you’re at the farmers market: Look for farm vendors that have the “WIC & Senior FMNP” sign on their booth.

What can you buy? Fresh fruits, vegetables, and cut herbs.

Electronic Benefits: In 2023, FMNP switched from a paper check to an electronic benefit. WIC participants now have a QR code on your eWIC card or WICShopper app.

How to pay: When you go to pay at the farmer’s booth, show them your QR code. They will then scan the QR code and ask you for your PIN number. Enter your PIN. Then the farmer will enter the amount to pay and the money will be deducted from your WIC FMNP benefits.

What’s my balance? Your balance is available on your WICShopper app.If you need help, please call call Customer Service at (800) 841-1410, then select “0.”

Does WIC FMNP expire? Yes, WIC FMNP must be used by Oct 31. Benefits do not roll over.

Interested in getting WIC FMNP benefits?

How to apply: There are limited WIC FMNP benefits available every year. In the spring and early summer, please ask at your WIC clinic about WIC FMNP to request receiving them.Once you are assigned WIC FMNP benefits, they will need to be activated before you can use them.

Who is eligible: WIC is a nutrition program for people who are pregnant, recently delivered a baby, breast and chest feeding, and infants and children under 5 years old. To find out more about eligibility, please visit the WIC Eligibility webpage.

Website: https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/wic/farmers-market/wic-fmnp-wic-participants

FMNP Brochure in English and Spanish (Dept of Health, 2025)

Contact: Email the FMNPTeam@doh.wa.gov or call (800) 841-1410 Ext 2, then select 2.

Depending on your household, WIC Fruit & Vegetable Benefits provide $26 or more per month to everyone participating in the Women, Infants & Children or WIC program. In 2024, families bought nearly $62,000 worth of fresh produce at farmers markets and farm stands with their WIC Fruit & Vegetable Benefits.

Want to use WIC Fruit & Vegetable Benefits at a farmers market?

Find a farmers market? You can use the WIC Fruit & Vegetable Benefits at any farmers market or farm stand that is participating in the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program. You can search for a farmers market online or pick up a Farmers Market Directory. Look for the “WIC & Senior FMNP” logo or the “WIC Fruit & Vegetable Benefits” sign.

When you’re at the farmers market: Look for farm vendors that have the “WIC & Senior FMNP” sign or the “WIC Fruit & Vegetable Benefits” sign on their booth.

What can you buy? Fresh fruits, vegetables, and cut herbs.

How to pay: When you go to pay at the farmer’s booth, show them the QR code on your eWIC card or WICShopper app. They will then scan the QR code and ask you for your PIN number. Enter your PIN. Then the farmer will enter the amount to pay and the money will be deducted from your WIC Fruit & Vegetable Benefits.

What’s my balance? Your balance is available on your WICShopper app.If you need help, please call call Customer Service at (800) 841-1410, then select “0.”

Do WIC Fruit & Benefits expire? Yes, at the end of the month. However, you can use your WIC Fruit & Vegetable Benefits year-round at farmers markets.

Interested in getting WIC Fruit & Vegetable Benefits?

How to apply: Please ask at your WIC clinic about the WIC Fruit & Vegetable Benefits.Most WIC participants receive them.

Who is eligible: WIC is a nutrition program for people who are pregnant, recently delivered a baby, breast and chest feeding, and infants and children under 5 years old. To find out more about eligibility, please visit the WIC Eligibility webpage.

Website: https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/wic

Contact: WIC Cascades Support Line, (800) 841-1410

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps people with low incomes make ends meet by providing monthly benefits to buy food. SNAP is also called “Basic Food” in WA and often referred to as “EBT.” Some people have WA’s very similar Food Assistance Program benefits instead of SNAP on their EBT card.

Want to use SNAP at a farmers market?

Find a farmers market? There are 115 farmers markets where you can use SNAP to shop. You can search for a farmers market online or pick up a Farmers Market Directory. Look for the SNAP EBT” or Quest card logo.

When you’re at the farmers market: First, find the farmers market’s Information Booth. At the Information Booth, swipe your SNAP EBT and get special wooden EBT tokens. Usually they are for $1 each.

What can you buy? Fruits, vegetables, honey, meat, dairy, baked goods, and other grocery foods that are SNAP “eligible foods.”

What you cannot buy: Hot, ready-to-eat foods, alcohol, flowers, or any other product humans don’t eat.

How to pay: When you go to pay at the farmer’s booth, you can pay for any SNAP eligible foods with the EBT tokens. You can’t get any change when you spend them.

Do SNAP tokens expire? Technically, no. However, it really helps the farmers market out if you spend them the same season you get them.

Can you spend SNAP tokens from one market at a different farmers market? In some cases, this fine if the farmers markets are all part of the same organization. But this is fairly uncommon. When in doubt, it is best to ask at the Information Booth.

Interested in getting SNAP?

How to apply: Please visit the Washington Connection website or call (877) 501-2233. You can also visit your local DSHS Community Services Office. Find yours at www.dshs.wa.gov/office-locations. Information is available in many languages.

Who is eligible: To receive SNAP or Basic Food, you must live in Washington state, meet income requirements based on your household size, and meet citizenship or immigration status requirements.

Website: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/esa/community-services-offices/basic-food

SUN Bucks (or Summer EBT) helps families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer.

Want to use SUN Bucks at a farmers market?

Find a farmers market? If a farmers market accepts SNAP EBT then it will accept SUN Bucks. There are 115 farmers markets where you can use SUN Bucks to shop. You can search for a farmers market online or pick up a Farmers Market Directory. Look for the SNAP EBT or Quest card logo.

When you’re at the farmers market: First, find the farmers market’s Information Booth. At the Information Booth, swipe your SUN Bucks card and get special wooden EBT tokens. Usually they are for $1 each.

What can you buy? Fruits, vegetables, honey, meat, dairy, baked goods, and other grocery foods that are SNAP “eligible foods.”

What you cannot buy: Hot, ready-to-eat foods, alcohol, flowers, or any other product humans don’t eat.

How to pay: When you go to pay at the farmer’s booth, you can pay for any SNAP eligible foods with the EBT tokens. You can’t get any change when you spend them.

Do EBT tokens expire? Technically, no. However, it really helps the farmers market out if you spend them the same season you get them.

Can you spend EBT tokens from one market at a different farmers market? In some cases, this fine if the farmers markets are all part of the same organization. But this is fairly uncommon. When in doubt, it is best to ask at the Information Booth.

Interested in getting SUN Bucks?

How to apply: Most eligible children will automatically receive $120 on a dedicated SUN Bucks EBT card mailed directly to their home this summer. There is a way to check if you need to apply: https://sunbucks.dshs.wa.gov/en/should-i-apply If you need to apply, please use this website: https://sunbucks.dshs.wa.gov/en/

Who is eligible: Children aged 8-18 who are enrolled at a school that offers the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program AND individually approved for free or reduced-price meals at school OR is a member of a household that receives benefits from the TANF/SFA or SNAP/FAP.

Expiration: SUN Bucks expires 122 days (~ 4 months) after benefits are activated.

Website: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sunbucks

Contact: SUN Bucks Contact Center at (833) 543-3230 or TTY: (800) 833-6348.

SNAP Market Match gives shoppers who use SNAP EBT or SUN Bucks extra benefits or a “match” to spend on fresh fruits, vegetables, and veggie plant starts.

How to use SNAP Market Match at a farmers market

Find a farmers market: There are 113 farmers markets where you can get SNAP Market Match. You can search for a farmers market online or pick up a Farmers Market Directory. Look for the SNAP or SNAP Market Match logo.

When you’re at the farmers market: Find the farmers market’s Information Booth. At the Information Booth, swipe your SNAP or SUN Bucks EBT card. You’ll be given a match in special “SNAP Market Match” paper currency of up to $25 at most farmers markets. Some farmers markets are able to offer more!

What can you buy? Fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, mushrooms, seeds, and edible plants.

How to pay: When you go to pay at the farmer’s booth, you can pay with the special SNAP Market Match currency. However, no change is given.

Does SNAP Market Match expire? Yes, at the end of each year or December 31.

Interested in getting SNAP Market Match?

How to apply: No need! You’ll automatically get SNAP Market Match if the farmers market is participating in the program.

Who is eligible: Anyone with SNAP or SUN Bucks.

Website: https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/nutrition-and-physical-activity/healthy-eating/snap-match-programs/snap-market-match

Seattle has its own matching program called Fresh Bucks. Eligible and enrolled customers receive $40 each month to spend at participating farmers markets.

Want to use Fresh Bucks at a Seattle farmers market?

Find a farmers market? You can use Fresh Bucks at any farmers market in Seattle.To get an exact list, please go to this website: https://www.seattlefreshbucks.org/farmers-markets/

When you’re at the farmers market: Find the Information Booth. You will then be able to scan your Fresh Bucks Card to get paper “Fresh Bucks” currency to spend with vendors.

What can you buy? Fresh, frozen, canned, and dried fruits and vegetables, herbs, and edible plant starts

How to pay: Use the Fresh Bucks currency. Note: this currency comes in $2.00 increments.

Interested in getting Fresh Bucks?

How to apply: Enrollment may be full. Please check the Seattle Fresh Bucks website. You may be able to get on a waiting list: https://www.seattlefreshbucks.org/apply/

Who is eligible: Seattle households that meet the income requirements and live within city limits qualify for Fresh Bucks.

Website: www.seattlefreshbucks.org