Portland families stretching their grocery budgets can turn $20 in SNAP benefits into $40 worth of fresh produce at local farmers markets this summer through a program called Double Up Food Bucks.
Participants receive wooden tokens for the SNAP amount withdrawn, plus matching Double Up tokens good for fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, dried beans and fresh herbs. The match is available once per person per market day.
The program runs through Dec. 31, 2026.
Why it matters now
Roughly 70,000 Oregonians have lost food aid benefits in recent months, and 300,000 more face new work-requirement rules that determine SNAP eligibility, Street Roots reported July 29.
An interview requirement for all households applying for or renewing SNAP took effect June 1 under the federal "One Big Beautiful Bill Act."
Rachael Ward, executive director of the Farmers Market Fund, said the federal changes do not directly affect Double Up Food Bucks.
The program draws its funding from private foundations, a State of Oregon appropriation and a federal GusNIP grant rather than from SNAP itself.
During a fall 2025 delay in federal SNAP payments, the Farmers Market Fund launched an Emergency Double Up program offering a one-time $20 credit to anyone with an Oregon Trail Card at more than 40 markets and farm stands, even if their EBT balance was $0.
Where to find it in Portland
Double Up Food Bucks is available at more than 75 locations statewide, according to the Farmers Market Fund. In Portland, at least eight markets participate, including all five Portland Farmers Market locations (PSU, Shemanski Park, King, Kenton and Lents International), plus Montavilla Farmers Market, Woodlawn Farmers Market and People's Farmers' Market.
Jesse Nichols, a farmer and founder of the cooperative farm nonprofit CAMPO, sells at three of those markets: People's Farmers' Market, Woodlawn and Shemanski Park. He sees shoppers using SNAP benefits as partners, not charity cases.
"Instead of a stigma for us, it's the opposite," Nichols told Street Roots in a July 29 article. "We look at people participating in that program as people who are helping those programs continue to exist."
Anina Estrem, food justice advocate and manager at Montavilla Farmers Market, told Street Roots the program helps change perceptions about who belongs at a farmers market. She described hunger as a money problem, not one that food pantries alone can fix.
Half of Oregon families reported buying fewer fruits and vegetables each week, according to a survey by Advance America.
Participating Portland markets — summer 2026
- PSU Farmers Market — Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.–2 p.m., SW Park & Montgomery (year-round)
- King Farmers Market — Sundays, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., NE 7th & Wygant (through Nov. 22)
- Lents International — Sundays, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., SE 92nd & Reedway (through Nov. 22)
- Shemanski Park — Wednesdays, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., SW Park & Main (through Oct. 28)
- Kenton — Wednesdays, 3–7 p.m., N Denver & McClellan (through Sept. 30)
- Montavilla — Sundays, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., SE Stark & 76th (through Dec. 20)
- Woodlawn — Saturdays, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., NE Dekum & NE Durham (June–October)
- People's Farmers' Market — Wednesdays, 2–6 p.m., 3029 SE 21st Ave. (year-round)
Shoppers can find a full list of participating locations at doubleuporegon.org.
