GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Berkshire Agricultural Ventures has started its 2025 Market Match campaign to aid federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program users.

 

"It's a program that exists to support SNAP matching programs in our area farmers markets," communications and development manager Audrey Hackett said.

 

This financial assistance plays a role in bolstering food equity and ensuring that all community members have access to fresh, local, and nutrient-dense food.

 

Through the economic development and food access program, funding is provided to farmers markets to enhance the effectiveness of SNAP benefits throughout the Berkshire-Taconic region. The grants enable a $1-for-$1 SNAP match program, doubling the purchasing power of SNAP at participating farmers markets.

 

"When people who are SNAP users go to farmers markets they have a certain amount that they can spend on fresh local food. The national program called Market Match doubles that amount which is wonderful," Hackett said. "So if you go to the market with $30, now you, through your SNAP benefits, have $60 to spend and you can probably access more expensive products like dairy, meat, and cheese."

 

BAV launched the Market Match fund in 2022 to support and grow SNAP benefits and raise money year round. The donation drive started in April and this year's goal is $30,000.

 

This year is more important than ever because of federal cuts made to local programs and farmers.

 

"There have been significant federal cuts that have impacted local food programs that are important to our food-insecure friends and neighbors and to local farmers," Hackett said.

 

Last fall, the state run Healthy Incentives Program that helps SNAP users purchase produce from local farms wasn't fully funded and SNAP programs are threatened currently by the federal government. This also hurt farmers, who are experiencing a funding freeze from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

 

"The Market Match Fund makes sure that our local farmers markets remain food access points for people in our community who need access to fresh local food," Hacket said. "Through the Market Match Fund we're providing support for some volume of sales that will help farmers do what their purpose in life is to do which is to grow food."

 

BAV has helped more than 180 farmers and food producers throughout the county. The Market Match Fund has supported more than $602,000 in SNAP sales and $337,000 in SNAP-matched purchases for low-income shoppers.