SNAP Matters for Farmers Markets

By: Diana Broadaway       Posted On: January 30, 2026

It has been a year of grappling with immense change in our country, including in the local food sector. In July 2025, the Trump Administration passed the OBBBA/H.R. 1, drastically reducing funding for several important social programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). As part of this budget reconciliation bill, $186 billion was removed from SNAP, a reduction in funding which not only directly impacts families and children but also food retailers including small farmers and markets who benefit from SNAP spending. With upwards of $50 million from SNAP cuts being redirected toward subsidies for large-scale commodity farms, small and specialty crop farmers are left further behind. 

2025 Policy Changes

Texas Farmers Markets – Cedar Park, TX

While SNAP is currently funded through the end of the 2026 fiscal year, the November 2025 government shutdown and subsequent pause on SNAP benefit distribution has left SNAP participants and retailers feeling uncertain about future gaps in funding. The new work requirements stipulated by the OBBBA and proposed changes to “broad-based categorical eligibility” for SNAP could lead to millions of individuals losing SNAP benefits. The addition of new food restriction waivers in several states places additional administrative burdens on retailers and increases stigma for participants, while further limiting choice and failing to address persistent barriers connected to income disparity and affordability which limit healthy food access. In addition, federal funding for SNAP-Ed has also been eliminated. Farmers markets across the U.S. rely on these important programs to promote SNAP participation and nutrition education in their communities.   

Along with cuts to SNAP, other potentially harmful shifts in agricultural policy under the OBBBA include:

 

As we press forward in 2026, FMC seeks to highlight the value of SNAP and local food access for markets, farmers, and their communities. During the first week in February, FMC is posting content focused on the potential impact of SNAP cuts on farmers markets, looking ahead to how our sector is responding, and collecting input from you all about “Why SNAP Matters” to farmers markets. Look for a new post each day on Facebook and Instagram and a call for collective social media action on this topic.

Impacts to Farmers Markets

As farmers and farmers markets navigate the changing landscape of federal grant and nutrition program funding, cuts to SNAP benefits in 2026 may reduce the earning potential of small farmers and markets who depend on SNAP benefit spending at their markets. Not only does this impact farmer incomes and market revenue but it also makes our communities more vulnerable, widening gaps in food access and reducing spending on local food and food products. With millions of recipients potentially losing access to benefits, SNAP sales are projected to decrease by an average of 8.7 percent, according to the Food Research & Action Center.   

In addition to direct reductions to SNAP funding, new work requirements and possible universal reapplication requirements will create additional barriers to SNAP eligibility and participation. In 2023, estimated SNAP spending on purchases from farmers and farmers markets topped $70 million. With millions of Americans potentially losing access to SNAP benefits in the coming months and other SNAP programs like SNAP-ed being defunded, farmers and farmers markets will likely face a loss in income from SNAP purchases. As this administration continues to reshape SNAP policy, pressuring states to share personally identifiable information (PII) on both program applicants and participants, and further limiting the types of foods beneficiaries can purchase, SNAP retailers may face new challenges to accepting benefits. For farmers and farmers markets, this could translate to additional administrative and operational burdens for folks that often face capacity and resource challenges, even in the best of times.   

For FMC, when we think about these cuts and the “trickle-down” impact they will have on the farmers market sector, it inevitably comes back to our mission “to strengthen farmers markets for the benefit of farmers, consumers, and communities” and how barriers to social safety nets like SNAP hurt not only individuals and families participating in the program, but also the market organizations, the market vendors, and the communities which program dollars help support. 

Looking Ahead in 2026

At FMC, we understand that the farmers markets we support are about more than just a place to buy groceries. They are a place of community, connection, and, hopefully, of belonging. We know how important issues of equity and justice are to so many of you and how vital nutrition benefits are to the fabric of your communities. Our organization has long been engaged in advocacy for programs like SNAP, WIC, FMNP, and GusNIP. We understand the value of accessibility, both for the program participants and the farmers offering  goods at your markets. 

A person hands a token to a vendor at an outdoor market stand, exchanging it for a small blue basket of fresh green vegetables.

Photo Credit: Jenna Shea

As we begin a new year, an election year, FMC is continuing to push for simplified nutrition benefit acceptance and processing for direct marketing farmers and farmers markets. During the 118th Congress (2023-2025), FMC worked with Senator Tina Smith and Congresswoman Hillary Scholten to introduce the “Cutting Red Tape for Farmers Bill” in both chambers of Congress. This bill proposes moving to a single application process for farmers applying to accept SNAP, WIC, and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition benefits and updating the Farm Bill to require states to provide markets with no-cost wireless equipment for processing SNAP. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has expressed a commitment to “create new opportunities to connect America’s farmers to nutrition assistance programs”, a goal this bill would help address. Although not included in the most recent Republican version of the Farm Bill, FMC continues to work with federal policy partners, including the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), to advocate for these changes. 

Along with this SNAP advocacy, FMC is working with its policy partners on a new bill to expand WIC acceptance for farmers and farmers markets. The “Farmers to Families” bill, 

  • seeks allowances for WIC Cash Value Benefits and Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) benefits to be used for community-supported agriculture (CSAs) and, 
  • seeks development of a technical assistance center for farmers and farmers markets to support WIC, SNAP, and FMNP processing 

 

While this work is ongoing, FMC will continue to share any updates on progress towards these marker bills during the 119th and 120th Congressional terms.    

 As we enter a new year and a new market season, FMC is continuing advocacy supporting SNAP programs at farmers markets. For our organization, SNAP accessibility for farmers and markets connects directly to strengthening what we think of as the “triple-bottom line”, benefiting farmer incomes, increasing healthy food access for consumers, and supporting community connection and engagement.

Coming together as a community to take stock and learn from one another feels more important than ever. FMC is taking a long-term view of this work and encouraging market operators and state/network farmers market leaders take a similar approach, continuing to build and strengthen partnerships in our communities and beyond, sharing and collecting stories, understanding who is being harmed by policy changes, and knowing who in our communities is also engaged in food access and SNAP advocacy. Who are the trusted organizations which support and engage with vulnerable populations in your community (e.g. food banks, WIC clinics, faith-based organizations, immigrant and refugee support and outreach programs, and other groups involved in community action)? 

Our markets and communities remain interconnected. There is still momentum for change, and an opportunity to engage with one another and with our elected officials before the midterms in November. Check out our upcoming newsletter for more background on FMC’s long-term partnership with NSAC and their role in national advocacy efforts for farmers markets!

 

Resources

FMC SNAP Guide for Farmers Markets

FRAC’s SNAP Cost-Shift One-Pager

CBPP State SNAP Fact Sheets

Civil Eats Food Policy Tracker

USDA FNS SNAP at Farmers Markets: Building Partnerships

USDA FNS SNAP State Directory of Resources

Farmers Market Legal Toolkit