Industry Newsletter from Mass Farmers Markets | | |
HIP Benefits Are Going Up!
Great news! DTA has announced that the HIP monthly benefit is increasing to $40 for all active SNAP households. This change will go into effect on July 1st, 2025.
The state legislature is currently negotiating the final budget for next year, and there’s an opportunity to fully fund HIP and return benefits to their original levels of $40/$60/$80 (depending on household size). Please reach out to lawmakers to urge them to fully fund HIP! Here is a toolkit you can use for these calls and emails.
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It's Almost Farmers Market Coupon Season!
Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) coupons are scheduled to be distributed beginning in late June and early July. FMNP coupons are distributed by local agencies to WIC families and seniors to purchase fresh produce at farmers markets and farmstands. Coupons are redeemed directly with farmers; typically market managers will not interact with them. Only certified farmers can accept FMNP coupons. Managers should be sure vendors (and vendor staff) know what is eligible to be purchased with FMNP coupons, and which market currencies each vendor can accept, so that ineligible vendors do not accept FMNP coupons. More info is available here.
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New Benefit! -- SUN Bucks (Summer EBT)
This summer, the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is rolling out SUN Bucks (previously called Summer EBT). SUN Bucks is a new and permanent federal food benefit that helps low-income families with school-aged children buy groceries when schools are closed for the summer. Eligible families will receive one payment of $120 per child between July and September. SUN Bucks can be used to purchase any SNAP-eligible foods. SUN Bucks are not eligible for HIP.
Unlike last year, SUN Bucks will not be issued on existing DTA EBT cards. Eligible families will be issued a new SUN Bucks card. SUN Bucks can be processed using existing equipment (including TotilPay Go).
More information on SUN Bucks is available on DTA’s website.
Find more information about SUN Bucks and farmers markets here.
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New Webinar and resources from MDAR: Cultivating Strong Agricultural Nonprofits
MDAR recently hosted a series of webinars designed to support boards of agricultural nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts to be as effective as possible. The webinar consisted of four sessions:
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Session 1: Effective Board Governance for Agricultural Nonprofits
Session 3: Fundraising and Financial Sustainability
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Session 2: Membership Engagement and Community Building
Session 4: Strategic Communication and Digital Media
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Immigration Enforcement at Markets
Given increased federal and local action related to immigration, including heightened enforcement of employment provision and detentions of individuals, farmers market managers should be aware of the implications of an immigration enforcement operation at their market. MFM has produced a guide to provide information to farmers market managers on what enforcement actions might look like at a farmers market, and how to be prepared. You can find the guide here: Immigration Enforcement at Farmers Markets
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Check out some of these other guides from Mass Farmers Markets!
Summer is coming! Heat and extreme weather have a big impact on farmers markets. This guide, co-written with CISA, provides strategies to help your market plan for and deal with challenging weather conditions.
Hosting public officials (for example, state legislators or town officials) at your market is a great way to build relationships with policy makers who can support your market and the local food system. MFM encourages markets to invite officials to their markets. National Farmers Market Week is a great opportunity, but any day at a farmers market is a good day to host. This guide provides strategies to host a successful visit.
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Market Manager Zoom Call
Monday, June 30th 10-11am
Mass Farmers Markets has scheduled a Market Manager Zoom call for Monday, June 30th from 10am to 11am. We'll discuss how to plan for National Farmers Market Week (August 3d through 9th), and leave plenty of time for open discussion. Please bring your questions, challenges and great ideas. On the registration form, you can specify any particular topics you'd like to discuss. All are welcome, but registration is required.
If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to memberservices@massfarmersmarkets.org.
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National Farmers Market Week
August 3 - August 9, 2025
National Farmers Market Week is a nationwide celebration of farmers markets, and a great opportunity to showcase your market and its impact on your community via promotion and special events. A toolkit from the Farmers Market Coalition is expected soon, and Mass Farmers Markets will also provide resources to help market managers plan messaging and events.
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Farmers Market Jobs
Love local food and community? Consider working at a farmers market! Farmers markets and farmers market vendors are hiring! Check out the opportunities on our jobs board: Farmers Market Jobs.
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Market Managers: Join MFM as a Member Market in 2025!
Mass Farmers Markets is here to support all farmers markets across the state.
But, markets that join MFM as a Member Market get additional benefits and support:
- Discounts on liability insurance
- An extensive library of resources, including information on food access programs, legal issues, fundraising and grants, marketing and more
- Grant, marketing, and other opportunities available only to MFM members
- Discounts on Constant Contact, Manage My Market, and Marketspread
- Free membership to Farmers Market Coalition (a $40 value)
- And more!
Just as importantly, you’ll be supporting Mass Farmers Market in its statewide work supporting and advocating for farmers markets. Mass Farmers Markets works year-round to support ALL Massachusetts farmers markets. Among our many initiatives:
- Regular Market Manager Zoom Calls
- Annual Farmers Market Conference
- Research and write-ups on topics affecting farmers markets
- Development of lists of farmers market and vendors
- Promotion of Massachusetts farmers markets through print and radio ads, our interactive map, and presence at events
- Administration of the Senior and WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program Coupon program
- Advocacy for farmers markets with lawmakers and state agencies
Check out the benefits of membership, and join or renew for 2025, by clicking the button below.
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Register for Liability Insurance Today!
Mass Farmers Markets offers liability insurance to Member Markets. Please remember to first, renew your membership and then apply for liability coverage. The deadline to apply for coverage is 2 weeks prior to your markets opening date; anything less than two weeks notice will incur an additional expedited processing fee of $25. If you have any questions, please email, liability@massfarmersmarkets.org.
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Eat Fresh Coupon Program
Mass Farmers Markets' Eat Fresh Coupon Program is a program that allows businesses, health care providers and wellness programs to provide coupons that can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at any local farmers market. The program is modeled after FMNP WIC and Senior coupons. Coupons can be used by shoppers to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, honey, cut herbs and herb plants, and are redeemed directly with farmers. Like FMNP coupons, Eat Fresh coupons expire on October 31st. Should shoppers ask where they can use their Eat Fresh coupons, please direct them to any farmer that takes WIC and Senior coupons.
MFM has designed the Eat Fresh program to allow sponsoring organizations such as businesses, municipalities and wellness providers to provide access to fresh local produce for their constituents. This could act as an employee benefit, wellness program, customer appreciation program, or more. If you know of any organizations that would be interested in providing this benefit to their constituents next year (making more money available to be spent at farmers markets!), please refer them to our website: Mass Farmers Markets Eat Fresh Coupon Program, or email eatfresh@massfarmersmarkets.org.
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Marketspread makes finding farmers markets easy for customers across the state.
Market Managers: set up or update your profile to drive traffic to your market.
| |  | We have created an online forum for market managers and partner organizations to collaborate, share ideas and resources, ask questions, and support each other. If you haven't joined yet, you can sign up here. | | | |
About Mass Farmers Markets
For 45 years, MFM's been working on behalf of farmers markets throughout the state. We help create, sustain, and promote farmers markets and the many benefits they bring. We help connect more individuals to local and healthy food through farmers markets systems. At the core of MFM's mission, we support social and economic development and the health of individuals statewide - collaborating extensively with community partners and other stakeholders.
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