Food access
Nutrition Incentives at Pueblo Farmers Market
More fresh food. More local food. More value.
At Pueblo Farmers Market, we work to make local food more accessible and more affordable. If you use food assistance benefits, you may be able to stretch those dollars much further at the market than you expect.
A SNAP shopper at Pueblo Farmers Market can turn $20 in benefits into $50 of local food through our incentive programs. And when eligible shoppers use Colorado SNAP Produce Bonus, they can receive $60 per month in local produce for free as long as you have at least $1 in benefits available on your card.
Visit the Market Info Booth when you arrive, and we’ll help you get started.
How it works
If you use SNAP/EBT, start at the Market Info Booth. We’ll help you swipe your card and explain which incentive programs you qualify for.
You will receive paper “bucks” to spend with participating vendors on eligible foods. No change is given.
Our goal is simple: help you take home more good food from local growers, ranchers, and food producers.
Available nutrition incentives
SNAP/EBT
Shoppers can use their SNAP/EBT benefits at Pueblo Farmers Market to purchase eligible food items. Visit the Market Info Booth to use your EBT card and receive market currency to shop with participating vendors.
Eligible items generally include foods meant to be prepared and eaten at home, such as:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat, eggs, and certain other proteins
- Jams, pickles, honey
- Bread and baked goods intended for home use
- Food-producing plants and seeds
Double Up Food Bucks
doubleupcolorado.org/how-double-up-works
Double Up Food Bucks helps SNAP shoppers buy more fruits and vegetables. When you use SNAP at the market, you may also qualify for Double Up Food Bucks to spend on fresh, Colorado-grown produce from participating vendors.
That means more tomatoes, greens, onions, melons, chile, peaches, and whatever else Colorado decided to show off with that week.
Colorado SNAP Produce Bonus
cdhs.colorado.gov/snap-produce-bonus
Colorado SNAP Produce Bonus gives SNAP shoppers even more buying power for fresh fruits and vegetables. This program can work alongside other incentives, helping families stretch their food budget even further while supporting local agriculture.
At Pueblo Farmers Market, this is the reason a shopper can turn $1 in SNAP into as much as $60 in local produce, depending on the programs available that day and eligible purchases.
PowerUp Protein
PowerUp Protein is a local nutrition incentive that helps shoppers access more protein-rich foods at the market. This program is designed to increase access to nourishing foods that can be harder to afford, while also supporting local producers.
If PowerUp Protein is available during your visit, the Market Info Booth will explain how it works, what foods are eligible, and which vendors accept it.
No national website. No flashy branding empire. Just real help getting real food into real kitchens.
Fresh to Flourish
Fresh to Flourish is a Produce Prescription Program available at Pueblo Farmers Market through CommonSpirit Health. This program helps patients of Southern Colorado Family Medicine Clinic increase their purchasing power for nutritious foods and expand what they can bring home from the market.
Because Fresh to Flourish is a locally administered program, the best place to get current details is the Market Info Booth. We’ll let you know how to use it, what it covers, and where to shop.
Again: not everything useful comes with a national marketing budget.
Why these programs matter
Nutrition incentives do more than help stretch a grocery budget. They help:
- Families afford more fresh, local, nutrient-dense food
- Children try fruits and vegetables grown close to home
- Older adults and neighbors with limited income access better food options
- Local farmers, ranchers, and food producers earn more from community sales
- Food assistance dollars stay working in the local economy
That’s good for shoppers, good for vendors, and good for Pueblo.
Where to start
When you get to the market, head to the Market Info Booth first. We’ll help you:
- Use your SNAP/EBT card
- Understand which incentive programs are available
- Know what each program can be used for
- Find participating vendors
If you are not sure whether you qualify, ask anyway. That is exactly what the booth is there for.