Market Match Fund
The Market Match Fund is an economic development and food access program, designed to provide a consistent, annual funding stream to match customer SNAP benefits at Berkshire-area farmers markets.
How it Began
Through listening to market managers and farmers about the positive impact SNAP matching programs have on their businesses and communities, BAV realized how critical this level of support is for our region. In the Spring of 2022, Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) established the Market Match Fund, the first centralized fund in our region to support SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) matching at farmers markets.
Through the Market Match Fund, BAV enables farmers markets to offer a $1-for-$1 SNAP match up to $30. Providing SNAP users $60 to spend at any partner farmers markets! To learn more about where and how to use SNAP at partner farmers markets, check out the Market Match FAQ page.
BAV looks at three goals as our guiding principles:
1) Centralize how market match funding is raised and distributed across Berkshire County, to improve efficiency without adding to markets’ expenses or workloads;
2) Increase revenue opportunities for local farms and food producers to help expand the regional economy; and
3) Make fresh, locally produced food consistently affordable for low-income (SNAP-eligible) families.
What is Market Match
The term “market match” (sometimes referred to as “double up bucks”) describes a nutrition incentive program, independently adopted and managed by farmers markets and organizations across the country.
Matching programs are structured to double SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) dollars. When a shopper withdraws SNAP dollars at the farmers market, they receive an equal amount in market tokens for free!
For example, when a customer withdraws $20 from their SNAP account, the market provides a match of $20, giving the customer $40 to spend on SNAP-eligible products, including: fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, baked goods, maple syrup, honey, and edible seeds & plants.
Significance
BAV views the establishment of the Market Match Fund as a vehicle for economic development and reliable, local food access.
Market Match makes SNAP dollars stretch further. Locally produced food becomes more accessible to people with limited income. SNAP customers can shop with reassurance knowing they will make the most of their budget while nourishing their families. The very existence of the Market Match program says to low-income shoppers, “This farmers market is for you.”
The Market Match Fund also allows significant business growth opportunities for farmers and food producers. The program brings more customers and more food dollars to markets. Creating more sustainable farmers markets, and contributes to the economic viability of our region’s small- and mid-sized farms, and our communities.
The Market Match Fund provides critical support to Berkshire County farmers markets, leveling the playing field of who can afford local foods, ultimately leading to healthier communities and thriving local agribusinesses well into the future.
2024 Market Match Fund Sponsors
Every dollar gifted to the Market Match Fund it goes directly to both families in-need and local farmers. You can donate to the Market Match Fund on our Support page.
BAV is actively looking for sponsors to support the continuation of this program. To learn how to become sponsor reach out the Fund’s Program Manager, Ciana Barnaba at ciana@berkshireagventures.org.
Thank You to Our 2024 Program Sponsors!
Client Stories | Market Match Fund
North Adams Farmers Market
For over a decade the North Adams Farmers Market has offered Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/EBT) incentives as a step to reduce the cost barrier to healthy local foods in the community. The North Adams market was one of the first markets BAV supported through the Market Match Fund.
“Berkshire Agricultural Ventures has been incredibly easy to work with and eager to support our market with both funding and educational resources to help our market succeed and grow. Without the support of BAV we would have had to suspend our Market Match Program weeks ago. Instead we have had enough funding to keep our Market Match program consistent and stable throughout the year, being a reliable resource our residents can depend on to help them nourish their families with healthy local foods despite very tight budgets.”
— Suzy Helme, North Adams Farmers Market
New Lebanon Farmers Market
BAV has worked closely with the New Lebanon Farmers Market to support their SNAP matching program, in addition to assisting the market in transitioning from a seasonal to year-round, in-door farmers market.
“Market Match is a wonderful program. People who benefit from the funds are choosing to shop at a farmers market. They are also choosing which items to purchase. In a world where charitable dollars are often misspent in ways that don’t fit the needs of the poor, the importance of this choice cannot be overstated.
Because BAV is doing all this work to relieve us from having to fundraise for Market Match, organizations like ours can focus our efforts on other projects we wouldn’t have time to do. This is a proven program that works!”
— Josh Young, New Lebanon Farmers Market
Support BAV
Help us on our mission to build a thriving local food economy. Your support helps us keep our services affordable and interest rates at or near 0% for farmers and food entrepreneurs.