November 5, 2020
Calling all Farmers'
Markets, Farm Stands, CSAs, and Mobile Markets!
The Ecology Center has funding in 2020 to provide technical assistance and resources to farmers’ markets and other farm-direct outlets wishing to add CalFresh EBT access at their locations.
Why add CalFresh EBT?
Adding CalFresh EBT access to your market means new customers and more income for farmers and other vendors selling there. When you add CalFresh EBT access to your farmers’ market, it opens up California’s billions of CalFresh food dollars to YOUR farmers. 

With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, millions more Californians have enrolled in CalFresh to help put food on the table during these challenging economic times. Adding CalFresh EBT access to your market sends a powerful message that all people, of all incomes, are welcome. 
We can assist with: 

  • The Food and Nutrition Service application, which is required to be able to accept CalFresh EBT 

  • Obtaining a wireless Point of Sale device (FREE for certified farmers’ markets and farmers)

  • Ordering and purchasing scrip (as funding allows)

  • Bookkeeping and accounting tools 

  • Market staffing and redemption models 

  • Print-ready outreach materials and press release templates 

  • FREE at-market signage 


  • Incentive programs like Market Match 
Get started with our online EBT Simple Guide or reach out to us today to get assistance with adding EBT access to your farmers’ market!
Phone: 510-925-4001

This program is funded in part through a Kaiser Permanente NorCal Community Benefits Program Grant.
Free Webinar: Adding EBT to your Farm-Direct Outlet
Tentative Date: Thursday, December 3, 2020 | 2 - 3pm
In this webinar, we’ll be covering the process of adding EBT access to farm stands, CSAs, and mobile farmers’ markets. Whether you are a farmer, non-profit, or other type of organization, get your questions answered about the Food and Nutrition Service Application, Point of Sale devices, marketing to EBT customers, and more. 

Please note that we may change the date and time of this webinar. If so, registrants will be notified of the change.
NEW Market Match Digital Engagement Toolkit
Want to help spread the word about Market Match in your community?

You can now use our new Market Match Digital Engagement Toolkit! Download images sized for social media and use our sample captions to let CalFresh EBT customers know that they can get more money at the farmers’ market. Be sure to tag @CAMarketMatch on Facebook!

Feel free to also use our sample language on your website.

Note: Spanish translations for the images are coming soon.
Route One Farmers' Market
Congratulations to Route One Farmers’ Market for receiving support from Santa Barbara's County CalFresh Healthy Living Office to staff a market navigator this year! The farmers' market navigator welcomed new families to the market, led great conversations about the benefits of shopping fresh and local, and ultimately led to people coming back to the market for more.

Route One Farmers’ Market began offering Market Match incentives at the farmers’ market in June 2020. They also received a new non-profit status and have big plans in the works to reinvest in Lompoc Valley and Santa Barbara County and improve access to fresh, locally-grown, and nourishing foods.

CDSS Fruit & Vegetable Pilot
The Ecology Center will be applying to participate in a new pilot program with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS): the California Fruit and Vegetable EBT Integration Pilot Project.

The Ecology Center and our Market Match partners have been engaging with this since the crafting of the legislation, which directs CDSS to pilot technology that integrates incentives onto the EBT card when CalFresh clients purchase California-grown fruits and vegetables. The Market Match program’s involvement in the pilot will help us better understand how the technology will impact the existing Market Match program, especially in a farmers’ market setting (using a scrip/token model).

We are working with our current Market Match partners to determine which sites would be best for piloting this new method, and will be collaborating with them to apply to the State by the November 9th deadline. Stay tuned for updates in the newsletter!
Farmers' Market Access and Equity Program | Ecology Center
(510) 925-4001 | ebt@ecologycenter.org | www.ecologycenter.org/ebt