Access to healthy, nutritious, and culturally-relevant food is a privilege for some and challenge for others. At Buy Fresh Buy Local-GLV, we are focused on educating about the food system and points of both access and inaccess. We work closely with different partners that share a mission to improve food access and justice. See below for these community-based partners and programs.

“An economy genuinely local and neighborly offers to localities a measure of security that they cannot derive from a national or global economy controlled by people who, by principle, have no local committment.”

Wendell Berry

SNAP/EBT & Food Bucks Program

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the food stamp program, is a government program that helps people purchase healthy foods. The SNAP benefits are loaded onto Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)/ACCESS cards on a monthly basis based on income and family size.

Click here to learn about eligibility and frequently asked questions.

• PA Benefits Center Hotline for SNAP enrollment assistance: (833) 373-5869

The Food Bucks Program,

formerly known as LV Fresh Food Bucks, is now being administered by The Food Trust and allows residents that are enrolled in SNAP to use their card to get FREE fresh, local produce at participating locations (up to $10/day).

Click HERE to learn more about Food Bucks!

How it works:

Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program

The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) is another type of federal assistance program that offers a series of voucher checks that can be used to purchase fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables directly from farmers.

Find local farmers’ markets, farms and farm stands where you can shop with you WIC FMNP and Senior FMNP vouchers.

Who’s Eligible?

• WIC FMNP: Individuals who qualify for WIC or the special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Receive the benefit during quarterly WIC visit (May – September). Click here to learn if you are eligible.
• Senior FMNP: Seniors that are 60 years of age or older and meet the federal income guidelines. *The checks are available on a first come, first serve basis. Proof of age and residence must be presented to receive the vouchers. Checks are distributed at a number of locations throughout the season, but most distributions occur in June. Contact your local Agency on Aging or Senior Center for more information. Click here to learn more about SFMNP
  • Looking for the application?– Fill out this APPLICATION and mail or email it to your county’s aging office representative.
    • Northampton County- SFMNP 2023 Application- due by Sept 15th, 2024:
      • Northampton County Area Agency on Aging, 2801 Emrick Blvd., Bethlehem, PA 18020
      • FMNP@NorCoPa.gov
    • Lehigh County- SFMNP 2023 Application- due by Sept 30th, 2024:
      • Lehigh County Aging and Adult Services, 17 South 7th Street, Allentown, PA 18101
      • agingandadult@lehighcounty.org
    • Berks County- SFMNP 2023 Application- due by Sept 15th, 2024:
      • Berks County AAA, 633 Court Street, 8th Floor, Reading, PA 19601

Food Pantries, Healthy Food Workshops, and More:

• Second Harvest Food Bank– is a program of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV) and works to “obtain food and distribute it to people in need through area non-profits, and to provide resources for education and advocacy to end hunger”. Their Find Local Food feature can help you find regional food pantries.
• Kellyn Foundation– is a local nonprofit that works to make the “Healthy Choice the Easy Choice” through food access initiatives, kitchen workshops, lifestyle medicine, and community gardens. They are also one of our partners!
• Lehigh Valley Food Policy Council– a organization made of local food system professionals that works to support and advocate for improved local food access, and regional food system policy and collaboration. The LVFPC website contains a variety of metrics and resources for the Lehigh Valley region.