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 a thriving local food economy 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 from our Support page.
BAV is actively looking for sponsors to support the continuation of this program. To learn how to become sponsor reach out to Program Manager Jake Levin.
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
Pittsfield Farmers Market
BAV works closely with the Pittsfield Farmers Market, operated by Roots Rising, to support their SNAP matching program. The Pittsfield market is now able to cover the full cost of matching SNAP dollars all day long—a one-to-one match up to $30, benefiting SNAP users and local farmers.
“This is such an essential program,” said Jess Vecchia, Roots Rising’s co-founder and executive director. She explained that before BAV’s Market Match Fund existed, market managers in the Berkshires sought limited funding from the same local sources—or, as volunteers, lacked the time and expertise for fundraising. “To have a ‘universal’ program like the one BAV has developed is really impactful—not just for us, but for all farmers markets,” Vecchia said.
Read the full story about BAV’s support for the Pittsfield Farmers Market here.
Support BAV
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