Riverview Farmers Market is proud to maintain our Doublebucks/Good Food Bucks Program, in coordination with the City Green/Garden State Good Food Network. The program provides Riverview Farmers Market customers a chance to match or double their EBT or Food Stamp Funds.  We will match up to $10 of EBT/Food Stamp funds per market, per card.  The dollars matched can only be used for local produce.  Customers can exchange their Families First/SNAP/EBT Card funds for tokens at the Riverview Farmers Market Information Table.

Q: What is Double Bucks/Good Food Bucks?

A:  Good Food Bucks is a program that “matches” Families First/SNAP/EBT Card dollars spent at participating Jersey City farmers’ markets (Riverview Farmers Market, Arlington Park Farmers Market, Lincoln Park Farmers Market). Whatever you spend on your Families First/SNAP/EBT Card, you’ll get a dollar for dollar match of up to $10 in Good Food Bucks tokens that you can spend on fresh fruits and vegetables grown locally. So, if you spend $10 on your Families First/SNAP/EBT Card, you’ll get an extra $10 – FREE – that you can use to buy fresher, locally-grown produce.

Q: How do I use my New Jersey Families First/EBT Card at a farmers’ market?

The Riverview Farmers Market has an information table where we will swipe your Families First/SNAP/EBT Card. You’ll tell the staff person how much you want to spend on your Card, and you’ll get that amount of  Families First/SNAP/EBT Card tokens that you spend like cash with the vendors that sell eligible food items (look for posted signs indicating “We Accept Tokens Here”). Vendors are not allowed to give you change for any tokens so please carry a couple of extra dollars/spare change with you while at the market in case you need to supplement (for example, your total is $12.50 and you only have $12 in tokens).

Money is deducted from your Families First/SNAP/EBT Card account the day you get the tokens, whether or not you spend the tokens that day. If you don’t spend all your tokens, DON’T WORRY!  You can save them and use them later. Families First/SNAP/EBT Card tokens never expire, but Good Food Bucks programs MUST be used by the end of the 2021 market season (November 21, 2021, for the Riverview Farmers Market).

Q: How do I get Good Food Bucks tokens?

When you use your Families First/SNAP/EBT Card at our market, you’ll automatically get an equal value of Good Food Bucks tokens up to $10.

Make sure you ask for an even number of Families First/SNAP/EBT Card tokens so we can give you the full benefit since Good Food Bucks tokens are worth $2 each. For example, if you ask for $7 in Families First/SNAP/EBT Card tokens, you’ll only get $6 in Good Food Bucks tokens, but if you ask for $8 in Families First/SNAP/EBT Card tokens, you’ll get $8 in Good Food Bucks tokens.

Q: What can I buy with my tokens?

A: You can spend your Good Food Bucks tokens on fresh fruits and vegetables that were grown locally, right here in New Jersey.  Look for farm vendors with a “Tokens Accepted Here” sign. Only our farmers are accepting tokens in the 2021 Season!

Q: Why can I only buy locally -grown fruits and vegetables with my Good Food Bucks tokens?

Good Food Bucks is a program with two goals: to help low-income families access fresher, healthy foods AND to support local farmers. By spending your Good Food Bucks tokens on locally-grown products, you’re helping local farmers boost their incomes, and that is great for the local economy.

You can use your regular Families First/SNAP/EBT Card tokens for other food items sold by our farmers, like meats, cheeses, and fresh bread.

Q: Do I have to sign up for something?

A: The Good Food Bucks program is a part of a City Green project to increase food access.  Participating markets are using an app (FM Tracks) ONLY to see how the program is attracting new customers, to observe market trends and to potentially gain further funds for more Good Food Bucks programs; however, you are not required to register for FM Tracks if you do not wish to. When you swipe your Families First/SNAP/EBT Card, the market staff person will ask only a couple of questions and have you shopping for local goods in no time!

Q: What if I don’t want to spend all my tokens today?

A: Keep them and use them next week!  Some people like to save up their tokens for when their favorite fruits and vegetables are in season and then buy large quantities to can or freeze.  The last day to use your Good Food Bucks tokens is November 21, 2021,  the closing day of the market. Families First/SNAP/EBT Card tokens DO NOT EXPIRE.

Q: Why can I only get $10 in Good Food Bucks tokens per market day?

A: Good Food Bucks has a limited budget. We want as many people as possible to get the benefit of doubling their fruit and vegetable purchasing power, and the best way to do that is to limit the number of tokens one person can get per market visit. You can come back every week to this market, and you’ll get up to $10 matched at each and every visit from now through the end of the market season (Good Food Bucks for the Riverview Farmers Market).

Q: Can I use Good Food Bucks tokens anywhere else?

A: Currently, you can only use the tokens that we provide at the Riverview Farmers Market at our market proper. Although this program exists at other Farmers Markets in NJ (find other participating markets here!), the tokens provided at the Riverview Farmers Market are not transferrable. You will not be able to use our tokens at other markets. Please contact those other markets for information on their token systems.

Q: Is it really free?  Where does the money come from?

A: Yes, it’s really free! The Good Food Bucks is made possible by Farms in the Heights, City Green/Garden State Good Food Network and the Washington Park Association. We thank these organizations for their support.

Q: What is a Families First/SNAP/EBT Card and how can I get one?

A: Families First/SNAP/EBT Card refers to the electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card used by recipients of federal food assistance benefits in New Jersey. SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is the new name for the federal food assistance program formerly called Food Stamps. In order to qualify for a Families First/SNAP/EBT Card, you must meet certain requirements for income and expenses determined by the State of New Jersey. To see if you qualify and apply for benefits, contact Hudson County Division of Family Services or your local social services agency.

Good Food Bucks is supported by City Green/Garden State Good Food Network and the Washington Park Association.

For more information about Good Food Bucks, visit the Riverview Farmers Market in Riverview Fisk Park, 498 Palisade Ave, Jersey City, every Sunday from 10 am- 2 pm, rain or shine)!