Seacoast Eat Local announced on May 27 that it will offer an opportunity for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) customers to purchase Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares during the 2026 summer market season, with support from Granite State Market Match. The program aims to help families and individuals facing rising food prices, which are expected to increase by 3.4% compared to the previous year.
Through this initiative, SNAP customers can receive a one-to-one match of up to $250 toward the purchase of a fruit and vegetable CSA share. This opportunity is available at the Portsmouth and Exeter farmers’ markets and is limited to one matched CSA per customer. Seacoast Eat Local said, “We believe everyone should have access to fresh, local food. But for many families, that access is becoming increasingly difficult.”
The process involves visiting either farmers’ market location, inquiring about SNAP CSA opportunities at the Seacoast Eat Local information booth, connecting with participating farms offering CSA shares, completing necessary signup forms, processing SNAP payments weekly or bi-weekly at the market, and picking up the share within two weeks of payment. For example, a $200 CSA would receive a $100 match while a $500 share would get the maximum $250 match.
Seacoast Eat Local operates across New Hampshire and Maine’s Seacoast region; it collaborates with farmers’ markets and vendors throughout this area while boosting community access to fresh local food and aiding farmers and producers, according to the official website. The organization also promotes local food systems by connecting individuals with regional farmers through guides and supporting initiatives like SNAP/EBT at markets.
“We are excited to offer this opportunity to SNAP households while also increasing the customer base for local farms,” Seacoast Eat Local said.
