The Black Hills Farmers Market opens this weekend.
The organization is partnering with several groups to extend EBT and food stamp dollars this year.
It’s the thirtieth anniversary for the Black Hills Farmers Market.
Organizers say 50 local vendors within a 200 mile radius from Rapid City are lined up to sell at the marketplace this year.
Barb Cromwell is the market manager for the Black Hills Farmers Market.
She says farmers markets are a good place to access healthy foods.
“Most of the food at the farmers market is unprocessed,” Cromwell says. “About two-thirds of our vendors carry fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s a very healthy place to do your shopping in general. It’s good to have fresh food, food that was harvested that day or the day before.”
Cromwell says this year the farmers market is partnering with the Fair Food Network and the Black Hills Area Community Foundation, to offer matching dollars to EBT, or food stamp, customers.
She says that gives families on SNAP benefits the chance to eat more fruits and vegetables by furthering those dollars.
“If a family comes to the market and spends 20 dollars in their SNAP benefits, they will receive an additional 20 dollars in in ‘Double Up Food Bucks’ tokens that they can spend on locally grown fruits and vegetables at the market,” Cromwell says.
The Black Hills Farmers Market opens at 8 am on Saturdays at Market Park on Omaha St. in Rapid City.