In celebration of National Farmers Market Week, Aug. 7-13, the Austin Area Farmers Market announces affordable, healthy food is now easier to buy for people who receive food support thanks to a coordinated effort by the market, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association.

MFMA, with funding received through a Specialty Crop Grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, recently installed point-of-sale terminals to accept electronic benefits transfer at the Austin Area Farmers Market, enabling people to use their EBT cards at the market and thereby purchase healthier foods. As an added incentive to encourage people to give the market a try and eat more fruits and vegetables, Blue Cross and MFMA are offering “Market Bucks” coupons. Market Bucks match the first $5 in EBT card purchases with an additional $5 in Market Bucks each market day. That amounts to $10 of food for just $5.

Positive results from a pilot program at three Minneapolis farmers markets last year were driving forces behind the decision to expand EBT and Market Bucks to more markets this year.

“We were really pleased with the results, so we jumped at the opportunity to work with more markets this year and help introduce more people to the healthy foods available to them at farmers markets,” said Dr. Marc Manley, chief prevention officer for Blue Cross. “We’re invested in this effort because we care about the health of all Minnesotans. This work makes the healthy choice the easy choice, so we have a better chance at preventing unnecessary disease due to unhealthy eating.”

The Austin Area Farmers Market began in 1981 and currently has 20 farmers selling a wide variety of products, including heirloom tomatoes, burgundy and scarlet green beans, yellow zucchini, potatoes, lamb, pork, free-range chicken, pasture raised beef, eggs, honey, raspberries, strawberries and much more. In the most recent season, the strong customer base for the Austin Area Farmers Market generated $100,000 in total sales for these local producers, a valuable economic boost for the region.

“The Austin Area Farmers Market is pleased to have the addition of the EBT and Market Bucks program,” said Heidi Harrabi, market manager. “It will enhance the ability of our customers not only to eat healthy, but also to stretch their food dollars, while increasing the income of their local growers.”

For more information about the Austin Area Farmers Market, visit austinafm.org or locate on Facebook.