Market Food Assistance
The Haymaker Farmers’ Market participates in several food access programs designed to increase healthy eating for our community experiencing food insecurity by making products at the Market more affordable.
New as of 4/2026 all vendors selling produce now accept payment for WIC FMNP and Senior FMNP benefits through the Homegrown Benefits App.
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is a federal program administered through Portage County Job & Family Services that gives eligible individuals a monthly food stipend, which can be redeemed through an electronic benefit transfer card that works like a debit card at participating merchants. At Haymaker Farmers’ Market SNAP customers can use their benefits by purchasing wooden $1 tokens with their SNAP card at the Market table, and use them to buy from qualifying vendors at the Market.
Produce Perks has been paused, we will communicate as we are updated. This food assistance program is grant funded through Produce Perks Midwest that seeks to increase SNAP use at Farmers’ Markets and increase fruit & vegetable consumption. Customers are given a matching benefit of $25/week in Produce Perk tokens, when they use their SNAP benefits at Market. These green tokens can then be used to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at Market.
Family Fruit & Vegetable Program – this program is for families with minor children in the household who meet the Ohio TANF eligibility requirements. A $140 coupon book for fresh fruits and vegetables is offered each 6 months.
WIC FMNP – WIC is a program for “Women, Infants, and Children” which provides food assistance for eligible pregnant mothers and children under 5. The WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), benefits are administered directly at qualifying vendor booths.
WIC Perks vouchers are available for free at the Market table each week for customers receiving WIC benefits - and can be used to buy $10 in fresh fruits & vegetables at the Market. Customers just need to show their current WIC card at the Market table.
Senior Nutrition Program – The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is administered by the Ohio Farmers Market Network, who offers a $50 benefit to area senior citizens, which can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at the Market, benefits are administered directly at qualifying vendor booths.
Produce Prescriptions (PRx) – Haymaker partners with local healthcare providers who identify eligible patients and “prescribe” fresh fruits and vegetables to help improve health outcomes. Patients receive produce vouchers that can be redeemed at Market. Questions? Learn more here.
Summer EBT program – Summer EBT (or SUN Bucks) is an Ohio program for children who receive free/reduced school lunches to offer continued support through the summer. Families receive a EBT card which can be used like the SNAP cards at the Market and will also be matched by Produce Perks benefits.
The Haymaker Farmers’ Market also participates in other food assistance programs and partners with local organizations doing this work.
The Socially Responsible Sweatshop of Kent sells a variety of products at Market to raise money for local food assistance programs, including fully funding the WIC Perks program!
We partner with Kent State University’s Flashes Fighting Hunger program who provides nutrition education at the Market, raises money to support their food pantry, and collects unsold produce from the Market to be given to Kent Social Services.
Through our partnership with Edible Kent, we developed and continue to maintain two gardens at the Market’s downtown location which produce vegetables all summer long. Harvesting from this space is free and open to everyone. Volunteers to maintain this space are always needed. Volunteer with us here!