Access Local and Affordable Food in Frederick County, Maryland
Did you know that Farm to School Frederick has a booth at the YMCA of Frederick County Farmers' Market? We are at the market every week on Tuesdays from 3:30-6:30 pm, through the end of October, distributing Maryland Market Money (MMM).
MMM is a statewide food access program that provides a dollar-for-dollar match for purchases made using federal nutrition benefits at participating Maryland farmers’ markets, farm stands, and CSAs.
Not only does this program increase access to food, it bolsters the local economy by supporting local farms and food businesses. Plus, the food is more nutritious and delicious, and has less negative impact on the environment when it travels fewer miles.
Follow these steps for Maryland Market Money:
1. Visit participating market vendors and use at least one of the following to buy your groceries:
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/EBT)
Women, Infants, and Children Fruit & Vegetable Benefit (eWIC-FVB)
WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (WIC-FMNP)
2. Bring your receipt of purchase to the MMM table and receive up to $30 extra per market day to spend on food!
3. Use your MMM $1 tokens with any of the approved vendors at the market to buy additional groceries. In Frederick, you can spend the MMM tokens at the YMCA of Frederick County Farmers' Market, Field Fresh Farmers' Market, and the Frederick Farmers' Market.
Use the following product eligibility guide to remember which products are available to purchase within the guidelines of each food assistance program.
Product Eligibility Guide, Maryland Market Money
Federal Nutrition Benefits
How do you know if you are eligible for the various types of federal food benefits and where do you go in Frederick, Maryland to sign up?
We break down each food assistance program below.
SNAP is available to Maryland residents that meet certain resource and income requirements. SNAP benefits are distributed via an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which works like a debit card. Your benefits are automatically loaded into your account each month and you can buy groceries at authorized food stores, farmers’ markets, and retailers.
Examples of SNAP-eligible items include fruits, vegetables, baked goods, meat, fish, poultry, seeds and plants that produce fruits and vegetables, eggs, dairy, and frozen foods.
Photo Credit: Juliet Glass, Maryland Market Money
There are multiple ways to apply for SNAP benefits in Frederick, MD:
Apply online at myMDTHINK. Call the Maryland Department of Human Services at 1-800-332-6347 for assistance.
Visit the Frederick County Health Department’s Golden Mile Office at 1100 W Patrick St. Unit H, Frederick, MD 21703 for in-person application support. Visit their website or call 240-315-3867 to confirm the schedule.
Visit the Frederick County Department of Social Services office at 1888 North Market Street Frederick, MD 21701 to pick up a SNAP application or email the office at fcdss.fia@maryland.gov to ask for one to be mailed to you. You also have the option to download the application at home.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
WIC support is available to Maryland residents who are pregnant, new mothers (up to six months after delivery), breastfeeding mothers (up to one year after delivery), infants, and children under the age of five who meet income guidelines.
To apply for WIC, you need to make an appointment with the Frederick WIC Program office, located at 350 Montevue Lane, Entrance B, Frederick, MD 21702. Please call 301-600-2507 to schedule your appointment.
The Women, Infants, and Children Fruit & Vegetable Benefit (eWIC-FVB) is distributed via a debit card and can be used at the YMCA of Frederick County Farmers' Market and Frederick Farmers' Market to purchase fruits and vegetables.
WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (WIC-FMNP)
The Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) is a USDA-funded nutrition grant program. Participants in the WIC program can receive an annual voucher of $30 to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets between June 1 and November 30.
Create an account on Healthy Together and select one market day in August to receive your FMNP benefits electronically. Call 301-600-2507 or email wicprogram@frederickcountymd.gov with questions.
Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)
The Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides access to locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs to low-income seniors, defined as individuals who are at least 60 years old and who have household incomes of not more than 185% of the federal poverty income guidelines.
Income-eligible senior citizens may receive $50 each year, distributed between July and September, to be redeemed with authorized farmers by the end of November.
For additional questions, reach out to the Frederick County Division of Aging and Independence, located at 1440 Taney Avenue Frederick, MD 21702, by phone 301-600-1234 or email SeniorServices@frederickcountymd.gov.
Farm to School Frederick is on a mission to increase access to locally grown, highly nutritious food for all Frederick, Maryland residents because equitable access to fresh fruits and vegetables is a necessity for individual and community health.
Our mission is carried out by fostering a collaborative network of Frederick farmers, community organizations, businesses, community members, schools and institutions united in the shared objective of promoting local agriculture and enhancing the health and well-being of all our Frederick residents from the youngest and oldest among us.
