Farm stand season is in full swing! We have some really beautiful and healthy produce coming in, grown right here on our farm in Blacksburg.
Access to healthy food has always been a motivator for us. It’s one of the things that we get jazzed about.
In fact, we’ll be at Solstice Fest this Saturday in downtown Blacksburg, handing out free produce and talking about this! Look for our table on Lee Street, in the section with non-profits.
🥒🥕🍅🥒🥕🍅🥒🥕🍅
This year our farm stand is accepting more benefit programs than ever.
🌈During full-service farm stand hours, we accept:
- SNAP EBT
- SUN Bucks
- Virginia Fresh Match
- Farm Market Fresh vouchers
- SWVA Produce Rx vouchers
Our full-service farm stand hours here at 2351 Glade Road in Blacksburg are:
- Tuesdays 9 am – 5:30 pm
- Fridays 9 am – 5:30 pm
- Saturdays 10 am -3 pm
The programs are all a little different. I see how they can be confusing!
👉🏽Here’s a breakdown of what we accept at our farm stand.
🌟SNAP EBT- Yes! We accept SNAP EBT (stands for supplemental nutrition assistance program electronic benefits transaction). You can use SNAP EBT to get produce, meats like our pork and poultry, fresh eggs, and honey. You can even use SNAP to pay for a season-long Farm Share subscription here. Learn more here.
🌟SUN Bucks- we accept those too! This is a special summer SNAP program provided to parents. Even if you don’t regularly get SNAP, you may still receive SUN Bucks benefits. You can use your SUN Bucks card just like you would an EBT card for our veggies, pork, and poultry, fresh eggs, and honey. Learn more here.
🌟Virginia Fresh Match (VFM)- tied to SNAP, this program works where each time you use your SNAP EBT card (even SUN Bucks cards), the value is matched for free produce. So, if you get a $10 pack of sausage purchased with EBT, you get matched $10 for fresh vegetables with that through VFM. If you get $10 of salad greens with EBT, VFM will match for $10 in free tomatoes for ya. There’s no VFM card or physical voucher; our farm stand attendants will get your VFM applied when we ring you up. Learn more here.
🌟Farm Market Fresh- these are vouchers for seniors and WIC recipients, issued through the local Dept of Social Services, to purchase fresh vegetables at local participating farms and farmers’ markets. The vouchers may be issued through the Healthy Together App. The app may be a little confusing to navigate if you’re new to it, but we can help you with that. We’ll scan the QR code in your app or enter your member number and pin to redeem your vouchers so you can get that yummy yellow squash for a summer casserole. Learn more here.
🌟Southwest Virginia Produce Prescription Program (SWPRx)- Food IS medicine! This program is a collaboration between the Dept. of Social Services and Carilion. Qualifying adults in Medicaid get a referral to the program from their doctor. The program includes nutrition classes and vouchers for fresh produce like dark, leafy kale and vitamin-dense baby carrots. You know, the foods we could all use more of. Learn more here.
We don’t do these programs on our own. We collaborate with LEAP, the Virginia Dept of Social Services, the Virginia Dept of Agriculture, and more to make them happen. We’re grateful for their support!
So, check us out at our farm stand. And use these benefits to eat great and feel your best all summer long.
And contact me (Sally) if you have any questions!
🥒🥕🍅🥒🥕🍅🥒🥕🍅