How Michiganders Can Get the Most Bang For Their EBT/SNAP Buck

With the ever-rising price of, well, everything these days, people across the country are looking for ways to help stretch their dollars. And there's one program in Michigan that will help those who receive EBT and SNAP benefits to get double their money.

I didn't know that this program existed until I saw a post in the Grand Rapids Informed Facebook group recently. The OP was asking about the best places to buy produce with their EBT card. Well, people in the community immediately chimed in to tell them about a program that can be found all across the state of Michigan - Double Up Food Bucks.

What Is Double Up Food Bucks Michigan?

The short answer is that it's a way for Michiganders who receive food assistance to stretch those assistance dollars way further. But the official answer is,

Double Up Food Bucks is a program of Fair Food Network. It matches EBT/Bridge Card, or food stamp, dollars spent on fruits and vegetables, up to $20 per day.

That's right, $20 per day. That means that you can go to any of their 250+ participating locations and get double the amount of produce you would normally be able to get.

How Do Double Up Food Bucks Work?

The thing that I really liked when I started reading about the program is that it can be used at both grocery stores and farmer's markets.

If you go to a grocery store, there may be specific steps you need to take before you can start using the Double Up Food Bucks. It's best to ask at the customer service desk before shopping.

It's important to note that I did a quick search on their website of participating locations, and it appears that currently large grocers like Meijer, Kroger, and Walmart currently do not participate in the program. However, at least in my area, Family Fare locations do participate.

At farmer's markets, in many instances, you will go to their manager/information booth and tell them you're looking to use Double Up Food Bucks. In this case, you need to have a general idea of how much you're planning to spend, as they will give you tokens.

It's important to note that Double Up Food Bucks are ONLY good for produce.