Program for Food Benefits Run Low Income

Shoppers can turn $20 on their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card into $55

Photo courtesy of The Tigard Farmers Market

A program that allows people to use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Match (SNAP) dollars at the Tigard Farmers Market is out of funding, and a future sponsor is needed to ensure families can continue to use this important benefit next season.

The SNAP program makes it possible for local families to stretch their grocery dollars so they can afford nutritious food essential to health and well-being while supporting local farmers and producers. Shoppers can turn $20 on their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card into $55 to spend on fresh, local items at the Tigard Farmers Market, which is owned and operated by the Tigard Area Chamber of Commerce.

Initial funding for the SNAP program this year was provided by the Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District, which supported the market through the end of July. Without continued funding, SNAP Match funds would not have been available for the last two months of the season. The City of Tigard stepped in to make sure the program remains available until the market’s final day of the 2025 season, on October 26.

“We are extremely grateful to the City of Tigard for supporting this program at a time when food insecurity in our community continues to be a major concern,” said Chamber CEO Megan De Salvo.

“We recognize this enormous need in our community and want to ensure that people across Tigard continue to have this added benefit to access fresh, local produce and goods,” said Tigard Mayor Pro Tempore Maureen Wolf. “We would ask our partners in the community to please consider funding this important benefit so it can continue to be provided.”

The program costs $1,750 a month, or $8,750 for the full May – October farmers market season. Local businesses and community members interested in providing funds to keep this program going should contact the Tigard Area Chamber of Commerce.

Shoppers interested in using the SNAP match can stop by the market information booth to get their market tokens and learn how to maximize their benefits. The Tigard Farmers Market is held every Sunday through October 26. To learn more about times and locations, please visit https://www.tigardfarmersmarket.org/.