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Free Coupons for Fresh Food with EBT at 23 Brooklyn Farmers Markets—Health Bucks

Increase Purchasing Power for Food by 40% at Farmers Markets

By , About.com Guide

Consumers with Food Stamps can get free coupons fresh produce at Brooklyn and other farmers markets in a NY City Department of Health initiative to help low-income families eat healthier diets.

The Health Bucks program runs all summer and through just before Thanksgiving. For every $5 in Food Stamp benefits spent at participating farmers’ markets, customers receive a $2 coupon to purchase additional fruits and vegetables, according to a DOH news release.

Get a 40% More Food at the Farmers Market Using Health Bucks

It's a great deal. No Wall Street guru could beat this investment!
  • If you spend $10, your Health Bucks coupons boost that to $14, although you have to spend the $4 extra the next time you shop.
  • If you spend $15, your Health Bucks coupons boost your budget to $21.
  • And if you spend $20, which is easy to do in the summer at a farmers market, you get an additional $8 worth of coupons for your next food shopping outing.

What You Need to Know

  • Health Bucks are $2 coupons redeemable for fresh fruit and vegetables at participating farmers’ markets.
  • You can get a $2 coupon for every $5 spent using an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card for food at the participating market.
  • It's a two step process to get the Health Bucks coupons. First use your Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to buy fresh produce at a participating farmers’ market. Then use your Health Bucks on your next visit to the farmers’ market to buy more fresh fruits and vegetables
  • You can spend Health Bucks at any participating farmers’ market – not just the one where you received them.
  • You can only get a Health Bucks certificate by using Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card for food at the participating market first.
  • The program runs from July 1 to Nov. 15.
  • The Health Bucks expire on Nov. 15.

    Health Bucks is a joint project of The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA)

    Which Brooklyn GreenMarkets Participate in Health Bucks?

    Twenty three farmers markets in Brooklyn participate. But some don't.

    Farmers markets where you can get and shop with Health Bucks coupons include markets in Bed-Stuy, East New York, Red Hook, Kensington, Fort Greene, Cyprus Hills, Bushwick and other neighborhoods.

    Get a complete list by borough of farmers’ markets that participate in the Health Bucks and the Stellar Farmers Markets program or search the terms "Health Bucks" or "Stellar Farmers’ Markets" on www.nyc.gov.

    Not all Brooklyn farmers markets participate. For instance, the Grand Army Plaza and Brooklyn Heights/Downtown Brooklyn markets are not included on the list of participants.

    Where to Get Your Health Bucks Certificates

    There are three ways to get your Health Bucks certificates:
    • Shop at participating farmers’ or greenmarkets (see above)
    • Some coupons are available through community organizations located in Health Department District Public Health Office neighborhoods in North and Central Brooklyn
    • Take a cooking class! Go to a Stellar Farmers’ Market nutrition workshops and cooking demonstrations at 18 markets across the City. These are run by the Department of Health, and you'll get a $2 Health Buck and a taste sample of the featured recipe following the workshop. It's all free. Stellar Farmers’ Markets" for locations and times of these cooking classes.

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