Farm Fresh Rhode Island blog

We’re happy to announce the evolution of our Fresh Bucks scrip system for using credit cards and EBT at farmers’ markets. The $5 Fresh Bucks coins can now buy any food or farm item from any vendor at the market, and you’ll receive change in cash. So this summer you’ll be able to use your credit or debit card to buy flowers, a cup of coffee or prepared foods.

New $1 Fresh Bucks, a product of our collaboration with the RI Dept of Human Services Food Stamps Program, allow EBT customers to now withdraw money in more flexible amounts. These $1 coins can be used at any Farm Fresh market and carry the same restrictions as EBT (food only; nothing hot or ready-to-eat) and no change can be given.

On a related note, you may have seen Food Stamps outreach workers at some of our outdoor markets in Providence this past summer. From 2001 to 2005, RI ranked last in growth in Food Stamps participation in the country. For numerous reasons, thousands of our state’s working poor are not being reached or not signing up. The result is that RI is missing out on valuable federal food dollars and too many Rhode Islanders are missing out on precious food assistance.