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CalFresh at Farmers Markets Work Group

Mission: To increase the use of CalFresh/EBT at farmers markets in San Luis Obispo and northern Santa Barbara County in order to:

1) create equitable access to healthy food and

2) support local farmers

CalFresh can increase the number of people that shop and spend money at your market. Since 2016, CalFresh and Market Match has brought in over $800,000 to local farmers markets in San Luis Obispo County.

Join our work group to help with this effort. Contact us for more information.

Annual Outcomes 2023, 2022, 2021

Total amount of CalFresh and Market Match redeemed from ff16-ff23. Bar chart showing upward trend

Partner logos: SLO Downtown farmers market, cambria, north county, route one, country farm and craft markets, SLO County Farmers Market Association

2023 National Farmers Market Week

5 County Board of Supervisors and 4 UCCE staff standing and holding the proclamation

Snapshot of activities:

  • On July 18th the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors recognized Aug 6-12th, 2023 as SLO County Farmers Market Week. 
  • Eleven partners in SLO and SB counties distributed over 425 farmers market week promotional items including healthy recipes, children’s coloring books, and tips on using EBT and Market Match at the market.
  • The Food System Coalition hosted their Summer Social at the Monday 8/07 North County Farmers Market in Baywood/Los Osos. 
  • Over 5,400 mailers were sent out to residents located near markets to increase awareness of National Farmers Market Week (NFMW) activities.
  • Social media campaign reached over 830 individuals promoting NFMW, the benefit of shopping at local markets and info on EBT and Market Match redemption.
  • Additional outreach conducted by Promotores to encourage community members to attend the farmers markets including videos in Spanish and Mixteco.
  • Media coverage in KEYT Santa Barbara County, A-Town Daily News, Paso Robles Daily News, KEYT San Luis Obispo County and KSBY.
Resources to promote Farmers Markets
EBT/CalFresh Promotion Kit
EBT/CalFresh Promotion Kit
What is CalFresh? Who qualifies? For which of my products can I accept CalFresh as payment?
CalFresh FAQ - Information about what can be purchased with CalFresh, who qualifies, P-EBT and more.
I need help promoting my market or training my vendors in CalFresh or Market Match, where do I start?

Start with the CalFresh at Farmers Market Environmental Assessment tool. This assessment will help us to understand how we can help and it will also help us track progress over time. Get a pdf copy to download, print and complete. Or you can fill it out online. 

Where can I send customers who want to apply for CalFresh?

Visit: https://www.getcalfresh.org/ or Call: 1-877-847-3663

More resources in English and Spanish for promoting CalFresh at your market:

 

Issues that impact farmers market access

Farmers Market Navigators

Two women holding flyers about farmers markets
The Farmers Market Navigator project is a collaboration between UC Cooperative Extension, the Center for Family Strengthening, North County Farmers Markets Association, Country Farm and Craft Market, and the SLO Food Bank.

Farmers Market Navigators are community leaders who provide information and outreach in multiple languages with people who have limited incomes and could qualify for the CalFresh program. In addition, they provide welcoming services and information at the market, including in season recipes, how to use your CalFresh card at the market, and how to get more fresh local fruits and vegetables on a budget.

Read about year one impacts here.

 

Contact us or join our mailing list for more information.