3SquaresVT (SNAP)

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities. In fact, SNAP is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) works with key stakeholders in every state to ensure that those eligible for nutrition assistance can make informed decisions about applying for the program and can access benefits.

In Vermont, SNAP is called 3SquaresVT and provides over $9 million in nutrition relief to over 82,000 Vermonters every month.

SNAP benefits are deposited on EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) Cards. EBT cards act as debit cards, bearing the value of food or cash from federal program benefit programs. They have taken the place of paper food stamps, generating a necessity for businesses to have a greater technological capacity to accept food stamps, i.e. the need for an electronic card service machine.

In Vermont, the EBT card is better known as Vermont Express. It looks like this:

You can use your 3SquaresVT benefits at many farmers markets and farm stands (find a farm stand). Search our directories and filter for locations that accept 3SquaresVT.

Some markets and farm stands have partnered with us to multiply your purchasing power with 3SquaresVT. Check out the Crop Cash program to learn how to double your benefits at farmers markets and Farm Stand Match to get 50% off your purchase when you use your benefits. (We’re still developing the Farm Stand Match program and options are currently limited).