FOOD FOR ALL
Food Access at Cuyahoga Valley Farmers Market
At Cuyahoga Valley Farmers Market, we believe everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy, and locally grown food. Our commitment to community health and supporting our local farmers drives our efforts to make nutritious options available to all residents.
Our Food Access Programs
CARROT CASH
Our very own food assistance program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) families! WIC families can bring their card to our information booth and receive $20 in Carrot Cash to use on fresh fruits and vegetables with our vendors every week. We’re truly honored and grateful to have recently received a generous grant from the Women’s Endowment Fund for the Carrot Cash program. This support will allow us to significantly expand the program throughout 2025, increasing our capacity to provide essential food access to even more WIC-eligible individuals and families in our community. This expansion means more fresh food on more tables, strengthening both local health and our local economy.
WIC FMNP Vouchers
This WIC program provides food assistance for eligible pregnant mothers and children under 5. The WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) distributes additional vouchers to WIC families for use exclusively at farmers’ markets, where they can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables.
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
SNAP is a federal program that gives eligible individuals a monthly food stipend, which can be redeemed through an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. Bring your EBT card to our information booth, and we’ll transfer funds of your choice into yellow tokens for you to use with our vendors.
Summer EBT (SUN Bucks)
The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (Summer EBT or SUN Bucks) provides grocery benefits to low-income families with school-aged children when schools are closed for the summer. Summer EBT benefits will either be loaded to a household’s Ohio Direction Card, or a benefit card will be sent in the mail to each eligible child. Bring that card to our market information booth to turn your benefits into yellow tokens to shop at the market.
Produce Perks
The Produce Perks program provides a $1 for $1 match on SNAP/EBT purchases. This means that any amount you spend with SNAP/EBT, up to $25 at farmers’ markets, is matched dollar-for-dollar. Produce Perks green tokens can be spent on fruits and vegetables. You don’t have to sign up for Produce Perks; simply show up at the farmers’ market with your EBT card, and you’re ready to go!
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP
The SFMNP provides eligible Ohioans aged 60 and older with $50 to purchase locally grown produce at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and farm markets.