Food Stamps Worth Double at Michigan Farmer’s Market

Food stamps are worth twice their normal store value at some Michigan farmer’s markets, according to a report in The Christian Science Monitor. It is a program called “Double Up Food Bucks,” which is an accepted practice in most of the state that gives SNAP money more spending weight when purchasing from local farmers.

The program, which is funded by the USDA, is very simple to use: All a person has to do is bring their SNAP card to a participating farmer’s market and tell them how much they would like to spend. The clerk will then give that person their specified amount in tokens, plus match it in Double Up Bucks. For example: $5 on your SNAP card earns you $10 in fruits and vegetables.

Although there may be some naysayers against the program, most agree that it benefits all parties involved by providing fresh produce to SNAP recipients while supporting the local farming community. In fact, the added benefit of using the SNAP cards at Michigan farmer’s markets increased overall sales from $300,000 in 2009 to over $1.2 million in 2013.