Double the Impact: How SNAP Match Makes Fresh Food More Accessible

The Downtown Ortonville Farmers Market has always been about bringing the community together through fresh food and local businesses. This season, that mission has grown even stronger with the introduction of the SNAP Match Program, making healthy, locally grown food more affordable for families while supporting the farmers and vendors who make the market possible.

Making Healthy Food Go Further

Fresh fruits, vegetables, baked goods, and locally produced foods should be accessible to everyone. Through the SNAP Match Program, shoppers using SNAP benefits can stretch their grocery budget while enjoying the same high quality products found throughout the market.

For every $20 spent in SNAP benefits, shoppers receive an additional $20 in Match Tokens to purchase eligible fresh, local foods. That means up to $40 worth of groceries can be purchased during each market visit, helping families bring home more nutritious food while supporting local agriculture.

A Win for the Entire Community

The SNAP Match Program benefits more than just shoppers. Every dollar spent at the market creates a positive impact throughout the community.

When families purchase from local vendors, they help strengthen small farms, support local businesses, and keep money circulating within Ortonville. At the same time, increased access to fresh produce encourages healthier eating habits and helps ensure nutritious food is available to more residents.

Programs like SNAP Match demonstrate how farmers markets can serve as both an economic driver and a valuable community resource.

Simple to Use

Participating in the program is designed to be quick and convenient. Visitors simply stop by the market information booth with their Bridge Card, where staff will assist them through the process. SNAP benefits are exchanged for market tokens, and eligible purchases are matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $20 each market day.

The tokens can then be used with participating vendors throughout the market, making it easy to shop for fresh, locally grown foods.

Supporting Local, Together

Every visit to the Downtown Ortonville Farmers Market helps create a stronger community. Whether you’re shopping with SNAP benefits, supporting local farmers, or simply enjoying a Saturday morning downtown, each purchase contributes to a healthier local economy and a more vibrant community.

The Downtown Ortonville Farmers Market is open Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., June through September, and proudly accepts SNAP/EBT benefits.

By making fresh food more accessible while supporting local growers, the SNAP Match Program is another example of how the Downtown Ortonville Farmers Market continues to invest in the people and businesses that make our community thrive.