Accessing Fresh Food with Benefits

How does it work?

Massachusetts gives every household an extra $40-80 to spend on fruits and vegetables purchased directly from farmers at farmer’s markets, farmstands, or through community supported agriculture. You get the money as a refund when you purchase these items using your SNAP benefits. See the video below to learn how the program works. To learn more about the program and find more resources, check out the state website.

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Visit the market managers booth at any Somerville market to get help using HIP.  At the city-run Mobile Market, everything qualifies for HIP – just swipe your SNAP card and see the money refunded on your receipt. 

In addition to HIP, Somerville’s Davis, Union, and Winter Farmer’s Markets offer a SNAP match of up to $15 per week. Stop by the market manager’s booth to swipe up to $15 of SNAP money and get up to $30 of tokens to purchase anything at the market. Instead of a match, the Somerville Mobile Market is subsidized by the city so that everything is offered at a reduced price. 
 

Where can I use HIP and SNAP at farmer’s markets?

What is the story behind these programs?

HIP started in 2017 through the hard work of local food systems advocates. Massachusetts is currently the only state in the US to offer this kind of program at the state level. 

Somerville has a long tradition of offering extra SNAP money to SANP households shopping at local farmers markets. Starting in 2005, Union Square Main Streets began offering a SNAP match. In 2020, the Office of Food Access and Healthy Communities began leading the Farmers Market Coalition with partners from the Union Square, Davis Square, and Winter farmer’s markets. The coalition receives annual funding from the City of Somerville to support a universal SNAP match at all city farmers markets.