SULLIVAN COUNTY — It’s that time of year and Sullivan Fresh Farmers’ Markets are open for the season. Sullivan Fresh's mission is to make fresh fruits and vegetables affordable and easily available to communities within Sullivan County through outreach, incentives, nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, and multi-lingual materials, while creating a sustainable sales market for local farmers.

At the Sullivan Fresh Market in Monticello, Market-on-the-Move, and the Liberty Farmers’ Market, you can pay your way using Farmer Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) Checks, Senior FMNP, or by using your Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/EBT) benefits. Those using SNAP/EBT benefits at the Market receive almost triple the buying power with programs like Fresh Connect and New York State Double Up Bucks!

Sullivan Fresh has 5 Farmers’ Market locations:

Monticello: Mondays 10:30AM-1:00PM from July 5 through September 27

Liberty: The Market-on-the-Move stops in Liberty on Wednesdays 11:00AM – 1:00PM. The Liberty Farmers’ Market, operated by Catskill Mountainkeeper, runs every Friday 3:00-6:00PM from June 18 – September 17.

Loch Sheldrake: The Market-on-the-Move stops in Loch Sheldrake Wednesdays 3:00-5:00PM from June to October.

Wurtsboro: The Market-on-the-Move stops in Wurtsboro 10:30AM-12:30PM on Thursdays from June – October.

South Fallsburg: The Market-on-the-Move stops in South Fallsburg Thursdays 2:30–4:30PM from June – October.

Visit sullivancce.org/agriculture/sullivan-fresh for a complete schedule.

How these programs work at the Market: When customers arrive, they can go to the info booth and swipe their SNAP/EBT/P-EBT card for the amount they plan to spend. They will then receive funds in $1 SNAP tokens to use at vendor booths or directly at the Sullivan Fresh mobile farmers’ market. For every $1 of EBT, the market will MATCH your tokens (maximum amount of matching funds is $20 per shopper, per market day). For every $5 of EBT, customers will also receive an extra $2 dollars in Fresh Connect checks.

Customers can visit any vendor selling SNAP-eligible products (such as fruits, vegetables, breads, meats, eggs, cheese, etc.) to make your purchase. No change will be given for SNAP tokens. Extra market match can be used to buy fruit, vegetables, herbs, mushrooms, vegetable plant starts, and seeds from vendors.

FMNP and Senior FMNP are one per season coupon books with a $20.00 value that qualified customers can use on fresh fruits and vegetables. Seniors may contact the Sullivan County Office for the Aging, and Women, Infant, Children (WIC) participants can contact Sun River Health in Monticello.

The Sullivan Fresh Markets also participate in Sullivan RX, a prescription program for fresh fruits and vegetables “prescribed” by Garnet Health doctors. Sullivan RX is made possible in collaboration between Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County, Garnet Health, Sullivan Renaissance, and Sullivan County Department of Public Health Services, all working towards improved health outcomes in Sullivan County.

Farmers’ market incentive programs are a win-win. Customers have improved access to tasty, local produce while the farmers have increased direct sales. Farmers’ markets provide great value for shoppers, keeping more money in customers’ and farmers’ pockets.

There are several different incentive programs unique to farmers’ markets promoting improved nutrition through increased consumption of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables.