Important Update About CalFresh Benefits
We want to provide our communities with an important update regarding CalFresh (SNAP/EBT) benefits and the potential impact of the ongoing federal government shutdown on your shopping at our farmers' markets.
Crucial Information: Potential Delay for November Benefits
If the federal government shutdown continues, the November 2025 CalFresh benefits are likely to be delayed and will not be loaded onto EBT cards on November 1st.
We understand this news is concerning. Our goal is to provide the most up-to-date information as we monitor the situation.
What You Should Know Right Now
- Your Current Balance is Safe: Any CalFresh benefits you already have on your EBT card from October or previous months are not affected. You can continue to spend your existing balance as you normally would at the farmers’ market.
- We Believe it’s a Delay, Not a Cut: This is a temporary funding issue due to the shutdown. The SNAP program will resume funding and distribution once Congress passes a budget and the government reopens.
- Your Vouchers are Still Good: If you are holding any CalFresh or Market Match vouchers from PCFMA markets, treat them like cash! They remain valid, and you can continue to use them in November and beyond.
Market Match is Still Happening
We are happy to continue processing CalFresh/EBT benefits into vouchers and issuing Market Match. CalFresh customers can still receive a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $15, once per market.
A quick reminder: To receive Market Match, you must have an existing CalFresh balance on your EBT card that we can process. Unfortunately, if your card has a zero balance, we can't provide the match.
We understand the hardship this delay creates for many families. We are here to support our community and will share any new information as we receive it.
Thank you for being a vital part of the PCFMA community. We look forward to seeing you at the farmers’ market.
