UPDATE in response to the SNAP funding crisis:

On October 21, we received news from the USDA that SNAP would not be funded for the month of November. This is horrifying, devastating news for the 170,000 Mainers who rely on SNAP to get enough food to eat. 30,000+ Maine households make the choice to support local farmers by shopping directly at the farmers' market through our Maine Harvest Bucks Program. In response, we're going to continue providing farmers' market shoppers with Maine Harvest Bucks to at least have a budget for fresh fruits and vegetables.

Maine Harvest Bucks is already in a crisis, with the loss of the federal Nutrition Incentive funding that comprises about half of our $750,000 annual budget for reimbursing farmers and food producers. But SNAP shoppers are essential, valued members of the Maine farmers' market community, and we'll do everything we can to keep shoppers fed. At the same time, we advocate that the burden of a hunger crisis like this should not fall on the shoulders of farmers. If producers can continue to take the risk, make the sacrifices, and do the manual labor to grow our food, we should not also be asking them to give it away for a low price, or no price.

Read on below to learn more about Maine Harvest Bucks. To help, please spread the word to your friends and neighbors about the program and how it works, and please consider a donation.

We're fundraising for Maine Harvest Bucks, our SNAP match program that helps SNAP/EBT shoppers at the farmers' market earn bonus bucks for fresh fruits, vegetables, and seedlings that grow food.

More Mainers get dignified, equitable access to the world-class food available at the farmers' market, and farmers get paid for their hard work. This program improves public health, community building, strengthens our local food system, and increases Maine farmers' and food producers' sales so that they can sustain their businesses.

MFFM needs to fundraise over $250,000 every year to provide these matching Harvest Bucks and operate SNAP at more than 80 sites across Maine. Right now, we're asking you to help us raise just 10% of that goal. Your donation, no matter the amount, provides essential funds for shoppers to take home more fresh, nutritious food and enjoy the best seasonal Maine produce. Everyone deserves enough quality food to stay healthy, and farmers deserve to make a living providing it. Any amount helps boost local food security, community health, and farmers' income.

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. If you prefer to donate by check, please make it out to "Maine Federation of Farmers' Markets" and mail to:

MFFM

P.O. Box 313

Freeport, Maine 04032