Food Stamps now accepted at many Tompkins County farmers markets

Customers using food stamps can now purchase a whole array of goods --fruits and vegetables, meats, fish, poultry, dairy, maple syrup and other maple products, honey, breads, baked goods, jams and jellies, processed foods and even seeds and plants which produce food-- at farmers markets across Tompkins County.  

“This is a positive, win-win situation for everyone involved in Farmers Markets – both the vendors and the food stamp customers.  Food stamp customers now have access to the freshest, healthiest produce and products that New York State has to offer,” says Monika Roth, Agriculture Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County (CCE-TC).  

At the weekend Ithaca market, customers can ask for receipts from vendors and then bring the receipts to the market office for a food stamp refund.  At other markets, customers can use their food stamp benefits to buy $1 wooden tokens from an on-site CCE-TC coordinator and tokens can then be used to pay vendors for food.

The program is part of the nationwide Farmers Market Nutrition Program. In 2008, 2.3 million Americans received benefits through the program and generated $20 million in revenues for farmers.

People can use food stamps to purchase goods at the following Tompkins County Farmers Markets:

Tuesdays at the Ithaca Farmers’ Market in Dewitt Park from 11-2

Tuesdays at the Groton Market from 3:30-6 PM

Wednesdays at the DSS Plaza at 320 W. State St. from 11-2

Wednesdays at the Trumansburg Market from 4-7 PM

Thursdays at the Danby Market from 4-6 PM 

And Saturdays and Sundays at the Ithaca Farmers’ Market at Steamboat Landing