June 11, 2013

Contact: Dana Gould (, 206 774 5273)

Hello,

Pike Place Market is a special community within the heart of Seattle’s downtown. More than the city’s beloved public market, Pike Place Market is a vibrant neighborhood with a long history of taking care of its residents, neighbors and community members.

Access to healthy, affordable food is a founding value at the Market and together we continue to strive to make healthy food accessible to all of our neighbors, regardless of income.

This summer, low-income Seattle residents will have additional opportunities to purchase fresh produce at the Market’s four farmers markets: the farmers market on Pike Place and the three Express farmers markets at City Hall Plaza, Occidental Park in Pioneer Square and South Lake Union at 410 Terry Ave N.

Pike Place Market’s farmers markets offer a wide array of fresh produce that is made more affordable this year for those enrolled in the government Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and who receive a monthly stipend with an Electronic Benefits Transfer card (EBT).

A city-wide farmers market program, Fresh Bucks gives every customer who pays with an EBT card a bonus dollar for every dollar spent (up to $10). The only thing needed to qualify for the Fresh Bucks match is an EBT card. Each customer may collect their bonus once per day.

The Fresh Bucks program will begin with the start of the Pike Place Market farmers market on Friday, June 21.

In addition to bonus dollars, every shopper who spends $10 of their own EBT will receive a free, reusable Pike Place Market tote bag. In addition to the free tote, shoppers will find recipes and information on seasonal vegetables, herbs and spices at locations where they scan their EBT cards. The first 50 customers to utilize the match program between June 21st- 23rd will receive a free 5 Spice Pack from Market Spice.

The Fresh Bucks program complements food access programs already in place at Pike Place Market.

Please share this compilation of all of the food-access programs at Pike Place Market with your readership:

  1. Food Stamp Match Program (Fresh Bucks):

When: June 21- October 31

What: Spend $10 with your EBT card and get $10 BONUS to spend on fruits and vegetables—that’s $20 total (we will match dollar for dollar up to $10.) Customers will also receive a free reusable Market tote bag and recipe with every $10 EBT card purchase.

Step 1: Go to the Farm Information tent at the corner of Pike Place and Stewart St.

Step 2: Scan your EBT card for any amount up to $10 and receive TWICE that in Farm Bucks, plus a Market tote and a recipe.

Step 3: Spend Farm Bucks like cash to buy fresh produce at farm stands.

Where: Pike Place Market (corner of Pike Pl and Stewart St)and Express markets.

Express Market locations:

City Hall Plaza
June 18-October 29
Tuesdays, 10 am-2 pm
600 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
Occidental Park, Pioneer Square
June 19-October 30
Wednesdays, 10 am-2 pm
S Main St & Occidental Ave S, Seattle, WA98104

South Lake Union
June 20-October 31
Thursdays, 10 am-2 pm
410 Terry Ave. North, Seattle, WA 98109

  1. Apply for an EBT card:

When: June 21, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm AND the first and third Thursday of the month

What: Within Reach will have volunteers available to help applicants complete the application for an EBT Card.

Where: Pike Place Farmers Market (corner of Pike Pl and Stewart St)

  1. Farmers Market accepts WIC and Senior FMNP coupons:

When: June 21- October 31

What: FMNP (Farmers Market Nutrition Program) coupons are distributed by the government through a lottery every June. They can be used to buy fruits and vegetables at farmers markets.

Where: Farm tents with a yellow and blue sign, “WIC & Senior Checks Welcome Here”.

  1. Select Pike Place Market Businesses also Accept EBT cards:
    Shoppers can use an EBT card to buy delicious food at the Market all year round.

*This list consists of permanent market businesses, not associated with the farmers market. The following vendors will not match EBT dollars.

Fish/Meat: Don & Joe’s, Pike Place Fish, City Fish, Jack’s Fish, BB Ranch

Dairy: Quality Cheese

Baked Goods: Pike Place Bakery

Fruits/Vegetables: Manzo’s, Lina’s, Sosio’s, Choice Produce, Frank’s, Corner Produce

Grocery: Rotary Grocery, El Mercado Latino

5.Community Services:

  • Pike Market Food Bank- Tuesday and Thursday morning (9am -12 pm). Located on Western Avenue on the 5th floor of the Public Market Parking Garage, look for the entrance near the elevators.
  • Pike Market Senior Center– Those who are aged 55+ may stop in for a free, hot, nutritious breakfast (9am) and lunch (noon) seven days a week. The center also offers free yoga, kiGong, and wellness classes each week. Monday night free dinner (5:30pm). Located across the alley from the Gum Wall in the LaSalle building.
  • Diabetes and Nutrition classes led by the Nutritionist at Pike Market Medical Clinic. Located at 1930 Post Alley.

The Pike Place Market is one of the oldest continuously operating public markets in the U.S. It is a Historic District with 250 commercial businesses, 80 farmers, 225 craftspeople, 400 street performers, and 500 residents. In addition, there are social services to help downtown’s low-income residents. It is often called the “Soul of Seattle.”

The Pike Place Market Preservation & Development Authority (PDA) is a not-for-profit, public corporation chartered by the City of Seattle in 1973 to manage the properties in the nine-acre Market Historic District. The PDA is required to preserve, rehabilitate and protect the Market’s buildings, increase opportunities for farm and food retailing in the Market, incubate and support small and marginal businesses, and provide services for low-income people.
The Pike Place Market Foundation is the heart of the Market. By helping our low-income neighbors who work, learn and live in and around the Market, the Foundation helps the Market we love remain a thriving, caring community. Established in 1982, The Market Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports housing and services for our low-income neighbors by fundraising, advocacy and community building. Over the past 30 years, The Market Foundation has contributed to a neighborhood model that allows our diverse community to live and thrive here at Pike Place Market. Learn more: