SNAP-EBT at the Annandale Farmers Market
In 2021, Britepaths began a partnership with the Fairfax County Park Authority and FRESHFARM to help community members who use SNAP/EBT benefits shop for fresh produce at the Annandale Farmers Market each Thursday morning during the market season. Read the press release
Click Here to Learn About our 2022 SNAP/EBT Program at the Annandale Market; Click Here to Volunteer
The EBT program allows individuals to utilize their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps, at the Market to purchase eligible items, including fresh fruits and vegetables. The matching dollar program allows SNAP customers to stretch their food budget further to make fresh local produce more affordable. Funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive and Virginia Fresh Match allows our volunteers to double participants’ SNAP money spent at the market. Fairfax County runs 10 producer-only farmers markets. In addition to the Annandale Farmers Market, three other FCPA markets offer SNAP benefits, including Reston, McCutcheon/Mt. Vernon and Lorton.
We are grateful to our volunteers, Diane Charles and Therese Burruss, who helped us kick off the program in the summer of 2021.
While the foundation of our Food Bridge program is providing short-term and emergency food support to local families in crisis in the form of non-perishable foods and grocery store gift cards, we have sought new ways to provide our neighbors in need with access to fresh foods for many years. In 2011, we expanded our food outreach to include Our Daily Veggies farmers market vouchers to help our families purchase fresh produce during the market season. Through our work with the Fairfax Food Council, we are helping promote sustainability and access to healthy food for all in Fairfax County and the Northern Virginia region.
In the Photo: The SNAP/EBT table at the Annandale Farmers Market on September 30, 2021. From left to right, Annandale Market Manager Michael Fay, Britepaths Programs Manager Mila Cobos, and Britepaths volunteers Diane Charles and Therese Burruss.
