Using your EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer, formerly known as food stamps) card at market couldn’t be easier. At our Steamboat Landing markets, the winter market and our Wednesday East Hill market – just check in with staff on duty and ask them to complete a transaction for you.

Swipe your card with the staff BEFORE you head to buy from vendors, then you will be given an amount of wooden tokens in $5 and $1 denominations that matches your withdrawal from your card. You can then use those wooden tokens to shop at market. Generally, vendors round to the nearest dollar in order to avoid making change.

In addition, there are several periods during the year in which the market receives “Fresh Connect Checks” through a state grant. These checks are given to EBT users who make a transaction at market. For every $5 you spend at market, we give you a Fresh Check worth $2. This multiplies your spending power at market by 40%! We hope these options can make it easier for you to shop with us at our five weekly markets!

Questions? E-mail market manager at kellysauve@ithacamarket.com or call (607) 273-7109 for more details.