MFFM is grateful to have found a new partner for this year’s Maine Farmers’ Market Convention focused on equity and low-income food access. The New England Grassroots Environment Fund (NEGEF) provided a sponsorship that enabled farmers and community members working to support Supplemental Nutrition Access Program (SNAP) access at farmers’ markets to come to the […]
Maine Harvest Bucks
Maine Harvest Bucks are Available at Winter Farmers’ Markets
December 14, 2017 CategoriesMaine Harvest Bucks are available all winter long at the following farmers’ markets: Augusta Winter Farmers’ Market Nov 28 to April Tuesdays, 12 to 5pm Old Church, 70 State St, next to Lithgow Library Bangor Winter Farmers’ Market Sundays 11-2pm Decemer 3 & 17, January 7 & 21, February 4 & 18, March 4 & […]
Saco River Winter Market Launches Maine Harvest Bucks
December 11, 2017 CategoriesJust two days after Thanksgiving, the Saco River Winter Market (SRWM) in Biddeford launched its Maine Harvest Bucks program. Now SNAP shoppers in Biddeford, Saco and other nearby towns can stretch their limited SNAP benefits in the coldest and costliest time of the year (one study finds 1 in 3 low-income families face limiting their […]
Nourish families and friendships this Giving Tuesday
November 26, 2017 CategoriesYou may have noticed that MFFM adopted a new tagline last summer: “Nourishing the roots of our communities.” Those roots include the historic tradition of rural farmers bringing goods to public spaces in Maine towns and cities. They include generations bonding over the sharing of recipes and food preparation tips. And those roots include Mainers […]
Maine Harvest Bucks: Good public policy.
November 17, 2017 CategoriesFresh fruits and vegetables matter. Research has shown that with many diseases, including cancer, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and heart and lung disease, the consumption of fruits and vegetables play a large role as preventative medicine. While treatment for diabetes is a tough pill to swallow (often involving many, many pills), the way to prevent the […]
Maine Harvest Bucks wraps up at Summer Markets
October 27, 2017 CategoriesWhen you see Maine Harvest Bucks (MHB) at farmers’ markets, consider how this program is the product of an organized effort among farmers, vendors, volunteers and community partners at each of the 31 farmers’ markets across the state. Because of their work, eating local is more accessible, easy and affordable for low-income Mainers receiving SNAP/EBT. […]
SNAP and WIC at Farmers’ Markets
October 17, 2017 CategoriesThis slideshow provides a brief overview of SNAP and WIC at Maine farmers’ markets.
Plan B – when Credit/EBT devices fail
July 25, 2017 CategoriesPrepare for the Rainy Days! Here is a simple step that will save your market a lot of stress in the case of an EBT device error. This page will explain: How to order manual vouchers Why your market should have these How to use your manual vouchers ***WARNING – Clover machines do not process […]
Working the market info booth – a success story from Augusta
July 21, 2017 CategoriesA strong Maine Harvest Bucks program requires a good deal of effort, and often one person can make a major difference. This was the case for the Augusta Farmers’ Market at Mill Park, which first began offering SNAP nutrition incentives in 2014, and added an “info booth” (where SNAP and other transactions are processed) in […]
Possible state government shutdown
June 26, 2017 CategoriesUpdate: The state government shutdown, which began July 1st, ended July 3rd, 2017. It is sounding more and more like there will be a state government shut down beginning July 1st. If that were to happen, it is as yet unclear what aspects of state government might continue to function in an emergency capacity. The […]