You can get a 50% discount when you shop at certain markets with your SNAP food benefits in Rhode Island! This program is designed to help low income residents get more food while also helping support local farmers – it’s a win win!
If you’re looking for ways to stretch your food benefits in this state, you’re not alone. The Rhode Island Public Health Institute estimates that one in eight Rhode Islanders are food insecure or lack adequate access to nutritious food. This is a huge problem… but we’ve found programs that can help!
In this article, we’ll talk about the programs that are available to you, explain who is eligible to use them and what you need to do.
Bonus Bucks
The Bonus Bucks program provides a dollar-matching benefit when you shop at participating markets. For every dollar you spend, you can get an extra dollar in free fruits, vegetables and herbs!
Who is eligible for Bonus Bucks?
Bonus Bucks are available to anyone who shops with SNAP food benefits at a participating market.
The program does not appear to have any additional requirements.
How does Bonus Bucks work?
If you shop at the Mobile Market, you’ll receive a 50% discount on your fruits and vegetables when you pay with EBT.
If you shop at any other participating market, then you will need to visit the welcome table or information tent to get started. You’ll swipe your EBT card and tell them how much you want to spend. They’ll hand you tokens equal to the amount you paid for, which can be used to buy any EBT eligible items from vendors at the market. You’ll also get a second set of free tokens that can only be used to purchase fruits and vegetables.
Where can I use Bonus Bucks?
Bonus Bucks are available at certain markets operated by Farm Fresh Rhode Island. We have alphabetized the list by city for your convenience.
City | Name | Address |
Bristol | Mount Hope Farm Farmers Market | 250 Metacom Ave Bristol RI 02809 |
Central Falls | Farm Fresh Central Falls Farmers Market | 621 Dexter St Central Falls RI 02863 |
Cranston | Pawtuxet Village Farmers Market | 60 Rhodes Place Cranston RI 02905 |
East Greenwich | Goddard Park Farmers Market | 1095 Ives Rd East Greenwich RI 02818 |
Harrisville | Burrilville | 75 Tinkham Lane Harrisville RI 02830 |
Johnston | African Alliance of RI Pop-Up Farmers Market | 1583 Hartford Ave Johnston RI 02919 |
Kingstown | South Kingstown Farmers Market | 25 W Independence Way Kingstown RI 02881 |
Middletown | Aquidneck Growers Market | 25 Enterprise Drive Middletown RI 02842 |
Newport | Aquidneck Growers Market | 120 Hillside Ave Newport RI 02840 |
Pawktucket | Children’s Friend Pop-Up Market | 500 Prospect St Pawtucket RI 02860 |
Pawtucket | The Guild | 461 Main St Pawtucket RI 02860 |
Providence | Farm Fresh Neutaconkanut Park Farmers Market | 675 Plainfield St Providence RI 02909 |
Providence | Farm Fresh Providence Farmers Market | 10 Sims Ave Providence RI 02909 |
Providence | Hope Street Farmers Market | 1015 Hope St Providence RI 02906 |
Providence | Children’s Friend Pop-Up Market | 350 Point St Providence RI 02903 |
Providence | Farm Fresh Broad Street Farmers Market | 807 Broad St Providence RI 02907 |
Providence | Sankofa World Market | 275 Elmwood Ave Providence RI 02907 |
Providence | African Alliance of RI Saturday Pop-Ups: | (multiple locations) |
Providence | Farm Fresh Armory Park Farmers Market | 85 Parade St Providence RI 02909 |
Warren | Schoolyard Market by Hope & Main | 691 Main St Warren RI 02885 |
Warwick | Westbay Farm Farmstand | 1351 Centerville Rd Warwick RI 02886 |
West Warwick | Farm Fresh West Warwick Farmers Market | 186 Providence St West Warwick RI 02893 |
Woonsocket | Farm Fresh Woonsocket Farmers Market | John A. Cummings Way at Clinton St. Woonsocket RI 02895 |
Food on the Move
Food on the Move is a nutrition incentive program organized by the Rhode Island Public Health Institute. This program provides a 50% discount on fresh fruits and vegetables when you pay with your SNAP food benefits!
Who is eligible for Food on the Move?
In order to be eligible for Food on the Move, you have to be a Rhode Island resident shopping with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits.
You also have to shop at a participating market, as described below.
How does Food on the Move work?
Food on the Move operates a few mobile produce markets. These are basically farm stands on wheels, big vans full of food that travel to different areas around Providence.
When you shop at one of these mobile markets and pay with your SNAP benefits, you’ll receive a 50% discount at the point of sale (up to $25 off per day). Many other nutrition incentive programs give you vouchers or tokens equal to your purchase price, but this program keeps it easy by discounting your purchase when you pay for it.
The people who work at the mobile market are bilingual, so they can talk to you in your preferred language.
If you are a new customer, you will also be asked to sign up for a loyalty card. The loyalty card gives you a point for every $2 you spend at the market. After you earn 100 points, you’ll get an extra $5 off your next purchase!
Where can I use Food on the Move?
In order to get your EBT discount from Food on the Move, you have to buy your fruits and vegetables from their mobile market. You can find their schedule on their website.
Summary
Both Bonus Bucks and Food on the Move can help you double your food benefits in Rhode Island. If you are looking for ways to get more food with your food stamps, this is a great way to do it! There are markets all over Rhode Island that will give you extra fruits and vegetables when you shop with your SNAP EBT card.