Photo: Boreal Community Media

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - July 10, 2025

The Grand Marais Farmer's Market participates in a variety of programs designed to provide fresh, local food to anyone in the community who qualifies. The market takes place on Thursdays from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM, from June 19th through mid-October, at the Cook County Community Center (317 W 5th St).

Below is a list and description of the programs:

SNAP/EBT and Matching Programs

SNAP/EBT: Participants can visit the welcome booth to swipe their EBT card and receive wooden tokens, each worth $1 of their SNAP benefits, to spend at any vendor in the market. These tokens are valid for the entire market season, so any unused tokens can be brought back another week.

Market Bucks and Produce Bucks: For anyone who qualifies for SNAP and redeems up to $10 of your SNAP benefits, you'll receive a dollar-for-dollar match: up to $10 in Market Bucks (which can be spent on any food item) and up to $10 in Produce Bucks (specifically for fresh fruits and vegetables). This means that a $10 SNAP withdrawal equals $30 to spend on locally grown food. Like the SNAP tokens, Market Bucks and Produce Bucks can be used for the entire market season.

Power of Produce (POP) Club

The Power of Produce Club, or POP Club, is available to all youth ages 4-12 and low-income seniors aged 65 and older. Seniors qualify based on their annual income, with limits of $70,000 for a single-person household, $95,000 for a two-person household, $118,000 for a three-person household, and $143,000 for a four-person household.

To join, individuals can sign up at the Welcome Booth. Each week, members receive $5 in Power of Produce tokens to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables. The POP Club is offered every week at the Market starting July 10th, and any unused tokens are valid for the entire market season.

Together We Grow for WIC Participants

Families participating in the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program in Cook County and Grand Portage can utilize the Together We Grow program. By visiting the Welcome Booth and presenting their WIC card, participants will receive $20 in Together We Grow tokens, which can be used to purchase any food at the market. These tokens, like others, are valid throughout the market season if not used in a single week.

Sunbucks Program

The Grand Marais Farmers Market also participates in Minnesota's Sunbucks program. Individuals can stop by the welcome booth to swipe their Sunbucks EBT card and receive $1 wooden tokens to spend at the market. Additionally, the first $10 of Sunbucks spent will receive a MarketBucks match. Sunbucks tokens are offered every week and remain valid for the entire market season.

For any questions regarding these programs, the Community Center can be contacted at 218.387.3015. You can also stay updated by following them on Facebook at facebook.com/GrandMaraisFarmersMarket.