ALBANY COUNTY — A new state initiative will double the purchasing power for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients at farmers’ markets across New York.

The FreshConnect Fresh2You program, as of April 15, provides eligible New Yorkers with a dollar-for-dollar match, which will allow families in need to purchase more healthy food, including produce, dairy products, and meats, according to a release from the governor’s office.

The program is meant to offset the recent reduction in SNAP benefits that were a part of pandemic relief efforts as well as record inflation costs, provide increased revenue for New York's farmers, and boost local food sourcing while eliminating food scarcity. 

The FreshConnect Fresh2You initiative provides SNAP beneficiaries at participating farmers' markets with $2 checks for every $2 spent as part of the SNAP program, up from $2 for every $5 spent.

Any farmer or vendor who is selling a SNAP-eligible food item at any farmers’ market, farm stand, or mobile market operating in New York State may accept a FreshConnect Check and now take part in the Fresh2You initiative. Checks can be used to purchase dairy, produce, meats, fish, eggs and more.

In addition to SNAP, formerly known as food stamp, recipients, the FreshConnect Checks program is also available to veterans, and to service members and their immediate families. Veterans can receive $50 in FreshConnect coupons this year from New York State Department of Veterans' Services offices.

New York has more than 400 farmers’ markets, 250 farm stands, and 10 mobile markets.

Albany County

The Department of Agriculture and Markets oversees the FreshConnect Checks (FCC) program and the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs (FMNP), and maintains a list of markets that participate in these programs.

On the list below of markets in Albany County, “FMNP Accepted” is a market that is authorized by to participate in FMNP; “FCC Issued” is a market that issues FreshConnect Checks to SNAP EBT card users; “FCC Accepted” is a market that has vendors that may accept but does not issue FreshConnect Checks; and “SNAP Accepted” is a market where customers enrolled in SNAP may use their benefits.

Ag and Markets lists these markets for Albany County; The Enterprise supplied links for dates and times open:

— Altamont Orchards Farm Stand T 6654 Dunnsville Rd Altamont, FMNP Accepted AND FCC Accepted;

— Delmar Saturday Farmers’ Market at 332 Kenwood Ave., FMNP Accepted AND FCC Accepted;

— Empire State Plaza Wednesday Farmers’ Market, Empire State Plaza, SNAP Accepted and FCC Accepted;

— Farmers’ Market at the Crossings at 580 Albany Shaker Road in Loudonville, FCC Accepted;

— The Gade Farm Farm Stand at 2479 Western Ave.in Guilderland, FCC Accepted;

— Veggie Mobile Sprout at 12 different locations in the city of Albany and one in Cohoes, all of which are SNAP Accepted and FCC Accepted.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer