MONTPELIER, Vt. -
Food at the farmer's market is a favorite for many Vermonters regardless of income level. There's added incentive from Vermont's version of food stamps called 3squaresVT: coupons.
There's a different currency at the Capital Farmer's market besides the wooden tokens. For people using 3squaresVT there's Harvest Health Coupons. You can get up to $10 worth just for withdrawing $10 of your own.
"So it's $10 free. It's half price. So it's great," 3squaresVT recipient Betha Hedenburg said.
"I just buy what I can't grow like those patty pans look really yummy."
For Betha Hedenburg it's a way to supplement her food budget and it's becoming an option for more Vermonters as the amount using 3squaresVT has grown by more than three thousand from July of last year to this March. Erin Buckwalter from Northeast Organic Farmers Association Vermont believes the Harvest Health Coupons are a resource to them…
"and it helps support local farmers so we see it as a win-win," Buckwalter said.
NOFA Vermont oversees the program and distributes the coupons. With a simple swipe of an EBT card people with 3squaresVT can get their coupons, but the coupons at this booth in Montpelier have already been redeemed and there's none left for this season.
"Once they go through those coupons we allow them to request more," Buckwalter said.
Up to $600 for any one market of $9,000 total in funding that NOFA has for the program. It's an exercise in allocation just like it is for Betha Hedenburg.
"I can budget what I'm going to use my money on and make the best choices," Hedenburg said.
The coupons are available at more than 40 different farmers markets across the state excluding the one in downtown Burlington.
