The Farmers Market Customer Guide describes how to use a variety of programs that help make local food accessible and affordable to all, from free veggie coupons for nursing moms to shuttle buses that bring seniors to the farmers’ market.
For information about securing public transportation to the markets, check out the St. Lawrence County Public Transit website.
SNAP/EBT Tokens

Description: $1 SNAP tokens.
Eligibility: SNAP Customers.
Where to get: Farmers market manager’s table. Will need SNAP EBT card.
Apply for SNAP through the St. Lawrence County Department of Social Services: 315-229-3136, or online at mybenefits.ny.gov.
Eligible Items: Breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, poultry, dairy products, jams, sauces, soups, maple and honey products, baked goods (wrapped and labeled) seeds and plants that produce food for the household to eat.
How to Use: Use as cash to buy SNAP approved items as listed above. No expiration date. Customer may return tokens to issuing market for a refund on unused tokens. Customers can NOT receive a change if purchase price is less than the value of the token.
Farmers Market Gift Token

Description: $5 gift tokens.
Eligibility: ANYONE using debit/credit/cash
Where to get: Farmers market Manager’s table or at info@gardenshare.org
Eligible Items: ANY item at the market.
How to Use: Use as cash for any item at the farmers market. May be used along with other benefits. The customer may return tokens to market manager for a refund. Customers MAY get change from purchases. No expiration date.
GardenShare “Bonus Bucks” Farmers Market Token

Description: $2 tokens.
Eligibility: Families with incomes up to 250% of the federal poverty threshold, and who are not receiving SNAP benefits.
Where to get: Farmers market managers table. Must apply for the program in advance by contacting GardenShare at info@gardenshare.org, or call 315-261-8054 for an application. Eligible applicants can pre-purchase Bonus Bucks Punch Cards in $10.00 increments and receive a 1 to 1 match up to $300 to be used at St. Lawrence County Farmers Markets. Program available on first come, first serve basis until funds are expended.
Eligible Items: Breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, poultry, dairy products, jams, sauces, soups, maple and honey products, baked goods (wrapped and labeled) seeds and plants that produce food for the household to eat.
How to Use: Customer “cashes in” Bonus Bucks punch cards for tokens to be used as cash to buy approved items as listed above. Customers will NOT receive change if purchase price is less than the value of the token. Tokens are not refundable. No expiration. Punch cards DO expire at the end of the market season.
Double Up Food Bucks

Description: $2 tokens. $20 daily limit.
Eligibility: SNAP customers
Where to get: Farmers market manager’s table.
Eligible Items: Fruits and vegetables.
How to Use: Once customer swipes SNAP EBT card for amount to be spent at the farmers market, they are eligible for a match with Double Up Food Bucks up to a $20 limit. For example, if customer swipes their EBT card for $25 at the market, they receive a match of $20 in tokens to be used as cash for the items listed above. Customers will NOT receive change if purchase price is less than the value of the token. Tokens are not refundable. No expiration.
Senior’s Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)

Description: Booklets of 5 checks @ $5 each ($25 total/season). Elderly food program of at least 60 years of age. 1 booklet/per year/per household.
Eligibility: CSFP (Commodity Supplemental Food Program) recipients. Income eligible.
Where to get: St. Lawrence County Center for the Aging
88 State Highway 310 suite 7, Canton NY, 13617.
Phone: 315-386-4730.
stlawco.gov/Departments/OfficefortheAging/
Eligible Items: Fruits, vegetables, and herbs
How to Use: Use as Cash. May be used alongside SNAP/EBT tokens, CNY Health Bucks, FCC, and WIC FMNP checks. Customers will NOT receive change if purchase price is less than the value of the coupon. Checks are not refundable and expire at the end of the season.
WIC (Women, Infants, Children) Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)

Description: Booklets of 5 checks @ $5 each ($25 total/season). On a first-come first-serve basis. Distributed at visit or any time. TIP: drop by your local county WIC in early summer!
Eligibility: WIC customers. Income eligible.
Online resources: www.fns.usda.gov/wic/women-infants-and-children-wic.
Where to get: Community Health Center of the North Country- St. Lawrence
4 Commerce Lane, Canton, NY 13617.
Phone: 315-386-8128/1-800-522-5006
ww.wicstrong.com/apply-for-wic/
Eligible Items: Fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
How to Use: Use as Cash. May be used alongside SNAP/EBT tokens, CNY Health Bucks, FCC, and SFMNP checks. Customers will NOT receive change if purchase price is less than the value of the coupon. Coupons are not refundable and expire at the end of the season.
FreshConnect Checks (FCC)

Description: Booklets of 25 checks ($2 each – $50 total/season). First-come, first-serve basis.
Eligibility: Veterans or family member of a veteran.
Where to get: NYS Division of Veterans Services
Massena Town Hall: 60 Main St. 2nd Floor
Weekdays, 8am – 9am, Mondays & Fridays, 3pm – 4pm
Potsdam VA Clinic: 201 Market Street, Suite G
Monday – Friday, 8am – 4:30pm
Veteran Services, Canton Human Services Building: 80 State Highway 310, Suite 5
Monday – Friday, 8am-4pm.
Call to coordinate a pick up time: 315-705-2120.
For More Information: freshconnect.ny.gov/content/how-use-new-york-freshconnect-checks
Eligible Items: Breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, poultry, dairy products, jams, sauces, soups, maple and honey products, baked goods (wrapped and labeled) seeds and plants that produce food for the household to eat. Also can be used at authorized farm stands.
How to Use: Use as Cash. May be used with other benefits; SNAP/EBT tokens, Double Up Food Bucks, CNY Health Bucks, and FMNP or SFMNP checks. Customers will NOT receive change if purchase price is less than the value of the coupon. Coupons are not refundable and expire at the end of the season.
North Country Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program (NC FVRx)

Description: Booklets of five coupons @ $5 each ($25 per booklet, up to a total of $150/ season).
Eligibility: Income eligible and must be referred through a partnering health care provider in the NC FVRx network.
Where to Get: NC FVRx SNAP-Ed community workshops through Cornell Cooperative Extension SNAP-Ed Program.
For More Information: stlawrence.cce.cornell.edu/food-nutrition/snap-ed-fruit-and-vegetable-prescription-program
Eligible Items: Fruits, Vegetables, and herbs.
How to Use: Use as cash at NC FVRx partnering produce vendors. May be used alongside SNAP/EBT tokens. Customers will not receive change if the purchase price is less than the value of the coupon. Coupons are not refundable and expire at the end of the season.