Food & nutrition assistance programs at your inclusive local market

Farmers Market Nutrition Programs and SNAP play a crucial role in helping New Jersey families access fresh, local food while strengthening local farms. This page brings together best practices and practical tools to help markets boost participation and make every shopper feel welcome.

Use Nutrition Benefits at Farmers Markets & Farm Stands Across New Jersey


2026 NJ Farmers’ Market Guides

Select the county, and click to download!

Current Initiatives

Increasing SNAP & FMNP Use at Farms & Markets in Bridgeton, Barnegat, and Asbury Park

NJFDC is leading a two-year initiative to increase SNAP and WIC FMNP purchases at local farms and farmers markets in Asbury Park/Neptune, Barnegat, and Bridgeton.

By working directly with residents, farmers, and market managers, this project will:

  • Increase SNAP and FMNP redemption at local markets

  • Improve awareness of where and how to use benefits with NJ farmers

  • Generate practical, tested marketing strategies that make markets more accessible and welcoming

  • Produce a replicable toolkit that can be used across New Jersey

The result: more dollars spent locally, stronger markets, and improved access to fresh, NJ-grown food.

Farm to WIC - County Initiatives

Members of the NJ FDC Inclusive Local Markets Working Group are focused on improving coordination between local and county government agencies, including WIC Offices, farmers, and community based organization with the goal of helping more customers using WIC CVB and Farmers Market Nutrition Program to access fresh NJ grown fruits and vegetables. Counties that will be focused on in 2026 are Ocean, Essex, Passaic, and Middlesex.

  • View local FMNP data here.

  • Check out the FMNP Toolkit created by the Inclusive Local Markets Working Group below — available in both English and Spanish.

Resources for Market Managers & Farmers

Guide to Increasing Redemption at Your Market

Strategies for stronger SNAP, WIC and Senior FMNP redemption.

Farmers Market Nutrition Program Toolkits

Strategies to increase redemption of Food & Nutrition Assistance Benefits.

NJ Farmers Market Nutrition Program Data

Allocated and redeemed NJ nutrition program funding for FFY18 - FFY24.

Resources for Customers and Shoppers

Using SNAP at Farmers’ Markets: How does it work?

* If you are not enrolled in SNAP, find out if you are eligible and how to apply here.

STEP 1

Find a SNAP Market near you. See all available SNAP markets in New Jersey and start taking advantage of the program today. FIND A MARKET

STEP 2

Bring your SNAP EBT (NJ Families First) card to a participating farmers market information booth or farm stand before you begin to shop.* Tell one of the market managers or volunteers that you would like to swipe your SNAP EBT card to shop at the market.

If only one or more food/farm vendors are accepting SNAP at a market, the managers can tell you which they are and you can use your EBT card to make a purchase directly from that vendor.

STEP 3

Decide how much money you would like to spend. The attendant at the booth will swipe your card for the requested amount, and will give you wooden tokens, cards, or tickets worth the amount previously decided to purchase food from vendors at the market.

If you want to make more purchases after your first swipe, you can go back to the market information booth and swipe again. Make sure to ask your market managers if you should use all tokens, cards, or tickets the same day or if you can save them for a later date.

Note: honey is also an eligible item for purchase with Senior FMNP benefits.

Make the most of your SNAP dollars at farmers’ market.

Eligible to purchase with your NJ SNAP/EBT:

  • Fruits and vegetables

  • Seeds and plants, which produce fruits, vegetables, and herbs for the household to eat

  • Meat, poultry, and fish

  • Dairy products

  • Breads and cereals

  • Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages

Not eligible for purchase with your NJ SNAP/EBT:

  • Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco

  • Vitamins, medicines, and supplements. If an item has a Supplement Facts label, it is considered a supplement and is not eligible for SNAP purchase

  • Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store)

  • Foods that are hot at the point of sale

  • Single serve items or sizes of food items , such as, a pickle on a stick or one ear of roasted corn

  • Any nonfood items such as:- Pet foods - Cleaning supplies, paper products, and other household supplies.- Hygiene items, cosmetics