Foothills Farmers' Market in Cleveland County has accepted SNAP/FNS benefits for about 10 years, giving low-income shoppers a place to purchase nutritious local foods. Even though they were offered this opportunity, few EBT shoppers were patronizing the farmers market. From January through June 2024, there were an average of 3.8 SNAP/FNS transactions per month (about one per week).

N.C. Cooperative Extension partnered with Healthy Together Cleveland to institute a cash incentives program that provided a dollar for dollar match on EBT purchases at the farmers market up to $10 per visit. Foothills Farmers' Market worked to attract and retain low-income shoppers by conducting targeted outreach to those receiving SNAP/FNS benefits to help them understand the program and encourage them to participate.

As a result of these efforts, SNAP/FNS purchases at the farmers market increased significantly. From June through October 2024, there were 166 SNAP/EBT transactions, with 100 of those occurring during the peak fresh produce months of June and July. These shoppers received $1,616 in Market Bucks shopping incentives to help them extend their scarce food dollars.