SFC's Farm Direct program promotes access to fresh, healthy food by making locally-grown produce available in the heart of the city and in locations easily accessible by low-income residents.

SFC Farmers' Markets, a vibrant network of farmers' markets, promote fresh produce grown within 150 miles of Austin. This urban market network offers customers a place to buy fresh, nutritious, seasonal foods direct from the producers. By selling at our markets, local farmers gain a stable marketing outlet for their farm products. The markets strengthen the local economy, increase sales among adjacent businesses, build community, and support a sustainable food system.

To ensure access to fresh, local food among all communities, Sustainable Food Center sponsors large, multi-vendor markets all of which accept Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers as well as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Lone Star cards (formally food stamps), and provide health and nutrition information to shoppers. Please see below for a detailed description of the nutrition assistance programs accepted at our markets.

 

For further details about our SFC Farmers' Markets, and other markets in our area, visit www.sfcfarmersmarket.org.

 

Nutrition Assistance at the SFC Farmers' Markets

 

Accepts SNAP

Accepts WIC EBT

Distributes & Accepts FMNP

Distributes DDIP

Accepts DDIP

SFC Fruit & Veggie Program

People’s Community Clinic FVRx

SFC East

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

SFC Triangle

X

X

X

 

X

X

 

SFC Downtown

X

X

X

 

X

X

 

SFC Sunset Valley

X

X

X

X

X

X

  

Green Gate Farms

X

 

only accepts

 

X

 

 
 

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)

  • SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps, are also known in Texas as Lone Star for the card on which they are issued.
  • SNAP benefits are given to a single person or family who meets the program’s income requirements. Each month, the family’s maximum allowance ($200 for a single person and increasing in proportion to family size) is added to the Lone Star card.
  • SNAP can be used for any food items not ready to be consumed on site.

WIC EBT (Women, Infants, and Children Electronic Benefit Transfer)

  • WIC offers extra nutrition assistance to pregnant women, new mothers, and young children.
  • Benefits are issued on an electronic card (though it is not technically an EBT card) and include a monthly allowance of $6 or $10 for fruits and vegetables per eligible client.

FMNP (Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program)

  • FMNP was formerly administered by WIC, but is now administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA).
  • Each eligible WIC client receives a one-time allotment of $20 in paper vouchers that can only be used on fruits and vegetables at a registered farmers’ market. Vouchers must be picked up and used by September 30th. Infants 0-12 months are not eligible.

DDIP (Double Dollar Incentive Program)

  • The Double Dollar Incentive Program (DDIP) allows families and individuals who receive SNAP (formerly food stamps), WIC EBT fruit and vegetable benefits, and/or FMNP vouchers to double the dollar amount that they can spend on fruits and vegetables at the market. Eligible shoppers are matched dollar for dollar up to $20 each week, per program. DDIP is valid only for the purchase of fruits and vegetables.

SFC Fruit and Veggie Program

  • SFC partners with Superior Healthcare Plan and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas to conduct a fruit and vegetable voucher program that provides their clients with vouchers that can be redeemed at SFC Farmers' Markets for fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables.

People’s Community Clinic FVRx™ Program

  • The FVRx™ program is a Wholesome Wave program designed to provide assistance to overweight and obese children who are at risk of developing diet-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Fruit and vegetable prescriptions are distributed by healthcare providers and redeemed at local farmers’ markets for fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables.
  • In Austin, People’s Community Clinic (PCC) identifies and enrolls participants in FVRx. PCC works specifically with pregnant mothers to reduce their and their child’s risk of developing diet-related diseases. Participants receive a FVRx prescription redeemable only for locally grown produce and valued at $1 per day per family member. The participants redeem the FVRx prescription for fresh fruits and vegetables at SFC Farmers’ Market East weekly or every two weeks throughout the 4-6 month program.