How SNAP and Fresh Access Bucks Support Food Access at the Delray Beach GreenMarket
The Delray Beach GreenMarket offers more than locally grown produce and a weekly gathering place for the community — it is also one of the only markets in Palm Beach County where shoppers can use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits alongside the Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) program. Together, these two programs make fresh, nutritious food more accessible to residents who need it most.
The idea for bringing SNAP to the GreenMarket originated after CRA Assistant Director Christine Tibbs visited a green market in Northern Florida and recognized an opportunity to replicate the model locally. Because the area within the CRA District is considered a food desert, the CRA moved quickly to pursue the program. The Delray Beach CRA was subsequently selected as an approved Fresh Access Bucks provider by Feeding Florida, the state’s network of food banks working to address hunger across Florida.
SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is one of the nation’s primary anti-hunger initiatives. It provides nutritional support to low-wage working families, low-income seniors, people with disabilities on fixed incomes, and others in need. The Fresh Access Bucks program builds on that foundation by extending the purchasing power of SNAP recipients specifically for fresh produce. For every dollar spent using a SNAP/EBT card at the GreenMarket, an equivalent amount in FAB is provided — up to $40 per market day — effectively doubling what shoppers can spend on fruits and vegetables.
Using the program at the GreenMarket is straightforward. SNAP recipients automatically qualify for FAB — no additional sign-up is required. Shoppers simply visit the SNAP/EBT tent at the market, purchase wooden tokens using their EBT card, and use those tokens at any participating vendor displaying the SNAP/EBT sign. The tokens function like cash and can be redeemed for fresh, Florida-grown produce, including fruits, vegetables, food seeds, and vegetable starter plants.
The GreenMarket currently has 15 vendors accepting SNAP and FAB. The program is available during both the Winter GreenMarket season and the Summer GreenMarket, giving residents access to these benefits for much of the year.
Access to fresh, affordable food is a core component of the CRA’s broader mission to invest in the health and well-being of the community. By supporting SNAP and FAB at the GreenMarket, the CRA continues to create meaningful connections between local vendors, fresh food, and the residents of Delray Beach who benefit from both.
