FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMS
Heart of the City is a leader in serving vulnerable communities. We facilitate food assistance programs that increase fruit and vegetable consumption including CalFresh (EBT), WIC, EatSF, and VeggieRX in partnership with Fresh Approach. We are proud to have been one of the first markets in California to accept food stamps electronically and we’ve helped train other market managers throughout the state to provide this critical service to communities in need. Over $4 million in food assistance is distributed from our information tent every year and and we operate one of the largest farmers’ market food access programs in the nation.
EBT Cards can be used at the market information tent during market hours to purchase tokens and vouchers. Customers receive $5 yellow EBT vouchers and $1 yellow EBT tokens to buy produce and eligible packaged food items at vendors' stalls. No hot food or non-edible items like flowers may be purchased with EBT tokens or vouchers and no change will be given. The tokens and vouchers never expire and can be used at any future market day. Each EBT customer will receive up to $30 in free Market Match nutrition incentives every month.
EatSF (Vouchers 4 Veggies) Vouchers can now be used directly with farmers to purchase produce. Visit us at the info tent if you have any questions.
WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program Vouchers, Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Vouchers, and VeggieRX Vouchers can be used directly with our farmers at their stalls.
Credit cards can be used at our information tent to purchase green $1 tokens and black $5 vouchers. There are no purchase restrictions, they never expire, and you receive change when you use them with our vendors.
MARKET MATCH
Our Market Match program in partnership with the Ecology Center and the California Market Match Coalition doubles the spending power of CalFresh customers by matching EBT purchases dollar-for-dollar up to $30 a month. Our Market Match program is made possible with funding from:
San Francisco’s Sugary Drinks Distributor Tax (SF Soda Tax) and San Francisco Department of Public Health PHD Food Security Program, administered through the Healthy Food Purchasing Supplements Program from the San Francisco Public Health Foundation
The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Grant Program from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
The California Nutrition Incentive Program from the California Department of Food and Agriculture
Additional support from Bi-Rite Family of Businesses
COLLECTING DONATIONS
Our farmers have donated thousands of pounds of produce for our most needy neighbors. If you are a community benefit organization, you may submit a request to collect donations from farmers on market days to steve@hotcfarmersmarket.org. If you are given permission to collect on your requested day, you must obtain a badge showing your approved status and provide containers to farmers who agree to donate. You are required to take all donated items with you and dispose of unwanted items off site.
OUR Community Partners
