Farmers market season and food security

Jasmine Sanborn
WSDA Food Assistance & Regional Markets

As the sun stays out longer and the days get warmer, it can only mean one thing – farmers market season is once again upon us.

Washington state is known for growing a wide variety of products – from apples (generating nearly 64 percent of the nation’s supply) to potatoes and hops. Wherever you go in Washington, you can always find a diverse variety of fresh and delicious produce grown right here at home.

Washington State Department of Agriculture’s (WSDA) Food Assistance programs are also supporting efforts for low-income families to receive fresh and nutritious foods at food pantries and farmers markets in collaboration with the state Department of Health’s USDA Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentives (FINI) grant.

Through this program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) shoppers are able to stretch their benefits by using their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards at various farmers markets throughout the state. Each farmers market offers different benefits, so it is best to check your specific market before visiting. Some markets offer a dollar-for-dollar program where for every $5 spent with EBT, you receive another $5 in “bonus tokens” to be used on fresh produce.

One in six residents in Washington relies on food pantries that are supported by WSDA resources to put food on the table each month. In 2016, a total of 1,223,244 people received an average of 16.9 pounds of food per visit to their local food pantry. This level of use shows the value of the FINI grant in expanding options for low-income residents to obtain fresh produce.

The farmers markets listed below are participating in the FINI program. Be sure to visit www.doh.wa.gov/CompleteEats for a complete list of markets offering bonus tokens this summer.

Benton 
Historic Downtown Kennewick Farmers Market
Prosser Farmers Market

Chelan 
Wenatchee Valley Farmers Market

Clallam 
Port Angeles Farmers Market

Clark 
Camas Farmers Market
Salmon Creek Farmers Market
Vancouver Farmers Market

Franklin 
Pasco Farmers Market

Jefferson 
Port Townsend Wednesday Farmers Market
Port Townsend Saturday Farmers Market
Chimacum Farmers Market

King 
Auburn Farmers Market
Ballard Farmers Market
Bellevue Farmers Market
Burien Farmers Market
Capitol Hill Broadway Farmers Market
Carnation Farmers Market
Central Area Farm Stand
Columbia City Farmers Market
Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market
Duvall Farmers Market
Federal Way Farmers Market
Harborview Farm Stand
High Point Farm Stand
Lake City Farmers Market
Lake Forest Park Farmers Market
Madrona Farmers Market
Magnolia Farmers Market
New Holly Farm Stand
Phinney Farmers Market
Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market Express- City Hall
Pike Place Market Express - Denny Regrade
Pike Place Market Express – First Hill
Pike Place Market Express - South Lake Union
Queen Anne Farmers Market
Rainier Beach Farm Stand
Renton Farmers Market
Shoreline Farmers Market
University District Farmers Market
Vashon Farmers Market
Wallingford Farmers Market
West Seattle Farmers Market

Kitsap 
Bainbridge Island Farmers Market
Bremerton Farmers Market
Port Orchard Farmers Market
Poulsbo Farmers Market
Suquamish Famers Market

Mason 
Belfair Farmers Market
Shelton Farmers Market

Okanogan 
Okanogan Valley Farmers Market
Okanogan Valley Farmers Market - Omak
Tonasket Farmers Market

Pierce 
Broadway Farmers Market
Eastside Farmers Market
Fife Farmers Market
Orting Farmers Market
Proctor Farmers Market
Puyallup Farmers Market
South Tacoma Farmers Market
Steilacoom Farmers Market
Waterfront Farmers Market of Gig Harbor

Skagit 
Anacortes Farmers Market
Bow Farmers Market
Mount Vernon Farmers Market
Sedro-Woolley Farmers Market

Spokane 
Emerson-Garfield Farmers Market
Fairwood Farmers Market
Hillyard Farmers Market
Kendall Yards Night Market
Millwood Farmers Market
South Perry Thursday Market
Spokane Farmers Market

Stevens 
Chewelah Farmers Market
N.E.W. (Northeast Washington) Farmers Market

Walla Walla 
Downtown Farmers Market (Walla Walla)

Whitman 
Pullman Farmers Market

Yakima
Yakima Farmers Market