In an effort to help more people enjoy fresh fruit, vegetables and meat from local farmers, EBT cards are now being accepted at the Thursday night farmers’ market in San Luis Obispo.

EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards will be welcomed at a booth located across from Louisa’s Place in the 900 block of Higuera Street. Those with EBT cards will be given tokens, the amount depending on their request. Those tokens can then be used to purchase food from the local growers in the SLO County Farmers’ Market Association section.

Tokens cannot be used at booths hosted by local restaurants or to purchase non-food items. The tokens can only be used at the Thursday night farmers’ market in San Luis Obispo, and EBT customers will not be allowed to exchange tokens for money.

EBT cards in California are issued through the CalFresh program, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program. The program helps low-income people buy the food needed for good health via a debit card that can only be used to buy food items.

Eligibility for CalFresh is determined by public assistance programs at the county level. For more information on how to apply, visit San Luis Obispo County’s food assistance site at slocounty.ca.gov/dss/Food.htm.