Program cuts for Florida food assistance programs leave patrons with fewer options for fresh produce, impacting several farmers markets in Alachua County.
Benefits of SNAP, the federal program that provides basic food assistance for more than 40 million people, will be cut by about 30%, or nearly $300 billion by 2034, under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” With funding cuts at the federal level, states are left scrambling to fund the rest themselves.
As a result, around 7 million people across all demographics would see their food assistance cut significantly or terminated. The federal cuts force nonprofits like Florida Organic Growers to pull food access programs like Fresh Access Bucks at farmers markets in Alachua County, which offer affordable groceries for local residents.
Florida Organic Growers is a nonprofit organization that offers SNAP and FAB services to markets like Alachua County Farmers Market and Grove Street Farmers Market.
Federal grant freezes impact Florida Organic Growers’ ability to support the services, making it harder for eligible shoppers and vendors to operate.
How it works
SNAP recipients can swipe their EBT cards in exchange for tokens at designated Florida Organic Growers tables when shopping at farmers markets to purchase groceries from vendors.
There are two types of tokens: SNAP tokens and FAB tokens. SNAP tokens can be used to buy meat, dairy, bread, cereals and prepackaged foods. FAB tokens are limited to fresh fruits, vegetables, mushrooms and herbs.
For every $10 spent with SNAP benefits, shoppers can receive an additional $10 in FAB tokens to spend on produce, doubling their grocery budget. Vendors who opt into the program accept the tokens and turn them into a FOG representative to receive monetary reimbursement.
Impact on farmers markets
Heather Henderson, the assistant director of Fresh Access Bucks, said FAB services are unable to reach farmers markets without Florida Organic Growers.
“It’s outside of the normal for a market that is getting as much SNAP and Fresh Access Bucks traffic to stop offering the program,” Henderson said.
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Henderson said she feels “confusion and a bit of frustration” that some markets, like Alachua County Farmers Market, have decided to let the program go.
In 2024, Alachua County Farmers Market distributed about $34,000 each in SNAP benefits and FAB, accounting for 1,149 transactions, she said.
She said that translates to about 12,605 servings of fruits and vegetables and 18,170 meals.
Henderson said markets that can’t rely on FOG have two options: hire someone to manage FAB services or partner with another nonprofit, but both are difficult.
The first option isn’t sustainable, she said. Most volunteers are UF students who aren’t permanent residents, and the FAB certification process is lengthy, she said.
The second option is also difficult because a new nonprofit must contact FAB directly to offer food assistance. Many markets don’t have the capacity to take on the responsibility, she said.
Henderson said FAB tried to continue services through FOG by connecting with the American Heart Association, the City of Gainesville and Alachua County, but it was ultimately fruitless. She speculated because USDA grants were frozen and FOG relies on the funding, it couldn’t continue despite those connections.
Fresh Access Bucks also operates in Alachua County at outlets like Frog Song Organics, Nicoya Farm and Hitchcock’s Markets. Customers can find FAB locations on the program’s website, which also allows users to recommend new outlets by filling out a “refer an outlet” form.
Alachua County Farmers Market will accept previously distributed tokens until June 28 but won’t issue new ones.
Sarah Stoddard, the secretary of the Alachua County Farmers Market board and a vendor with her business, Lucky Buddha Mushrooms, said the news hurt to hear.
“Our market personally made an awful lot of money through the Fresh [Access] Bucks,” Stoddard said.
She said many of her customers used tokens, and without the service, they’ve stopped coming. She hasn’t seen many regulars in the last two months, she said.
“It was a shock to the business, but nothing as much as not seeing those people anymore with their children,” she said.
She recalled a family who came in weekly, including a daughter who would make her drawings. They only paid in tokens, and Stoddard hasn’t seen them come by since the market ended FAB services.
Stoddard said the farmers market tried to take over the service, but it would require hiring someone to manage the FAB booth and logistics. The market didn’t have the funds for it, she said.
Stoddard said the market’s board is constantly changing, making decisions inconsistent. It’s been logistically impossible to take over FOG’s responsibilities, she said.
Other markets have taken on the FAB service themselves without a middleman.
FOG helped some markets transition to running the program independently, like the Grove Street Farmers Market.
Monica Albert, the market’s founder, said she’s dedicated to providing accessible food to everyone. Albert became certified to distribute FAB herself.
Albert said FAB supported her transition from relying on FOG to managing certification and bookkeeping on her own.
Albert said Grove Street Farmers Market paused FAB services for three months after FOG ended its partnership in December. The market became USDA-certified in March and has since fully taken over the program.
Marielle Mackin, the interim programs manager and the human resources director for Florida Organic Growers, said she’s heartbroken by the changes.
She understands how critical the programs are for both customers and farmers, but FOG can’t afford to continue, she said.
“It’s a lot of tightening the belt,” Mackin said.
Mackin said the Trump administration froze and canceled grants FOG relied on for staffing and administering programs like FAB.
FOG initially planned to continue administering FAB when market applications came up for renewal. But the process proved difficult for markets because USDA approval takes time.
Mitchell McDaniel, a 44-year-old Alachua County resident, said he gets most of his groceries from the Alachua County Farmers Market.
McDaniel relied on FAB tokens when starting his family, he said. He believes food should always be accessible to everyone.
He called the program an opportunity to build community. Without FAB, farmers and shoppers lose a chance to connect.
“So as long as people have healthy food, people will be healthy, and they’ll be happy,” McDaniel said. “I think that’s an integral part of unity within the community.”
Contact Allison Bonnemaison at [email protected]. Follow them on X @allisonrbonn.
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Allison is a journalism and international studies sophomore. She is the Summer 2025 food reporter at The Avenue. In her free time, she enjoys drawing and finding new music to listen to.
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