Farmers’ Market – Sustainable Food Center

Farmers’ Market Food Safety & Quality

Anna-Kay Reeves — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:35:56 +0000

Whether shrink-wrapped, freeze-dried, or in a sealed bag inside a sealed box, typical groceries are extensively packaged and preserved. For many grocery store shoppers, packaging and preservatives are seen as indications of food quality and safety, which might make the stacks of carrots out in the open and baked goods in paper bags at farmers’ markets seem risky by comparison. But in reality, small-scale farmers, ranchers, and food vendors follow a variety of quality-assurance and food safety guidelines. Here’s a look at what really happens behind the booth.

Producer-only markets

For the freshest farmers’ market foods, look for markets that describe themselves as “producer-only”. This description means that vendors have to grow or make what they sell themselves and can’t resell products made by someone else. While “producer-only” is a voluntary standard, markets who opt for this model usually have an inspection or farm visit system to ensure vendors are producing the goods they bring themselves.

SFC Farmers’ Markets

At Sustainable Food Center (SFC), our knowledge about market food safety comes from experience at our own markets. We operate two producer-only markets in Austin, SFC Farmers’ Market Downtown and SFC Farmers Market at Sunset Valley. SFC’s Farm Viability team makes in-person visits to farms selling fresh fruit and veggies, eggs, dairy, and meat.

Farm visits help us ensure transparency in the supply chain and also give us a chance to connect with farmers more directly about their operations. There is so much variation in the Texas landscape and how it interacts with food production – from sandy soils needing a lot of amendments, to pastures that were previously overgrazed and are consequently dominated by thorny weeds. Awareness of the challenges small-scale farmers face informs SFC’s priorities in farmer advocacy and resources like SFC’s Farmer Newsletter.

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Cottage Foods

Market goods that are lower risk for spoilage like jams, cookies, and bread made by small-businesses (earning less than $50,000 annually in revenue) are regulated under Cottage Food Law. Although this category exempts vendors from some permit requirements, cottage food vendors still have to register with the state, complete a basic food safety course, and comply with product labeling requirements.

Labels are the main quality assurance mechanism for small-batch cottage foods. Labels must show the date the product was made, any ingredients associated with common allergies, and a disclaimer that the food isn’t subject to inspection. See full list of labeling requirements. Although cottage food operations aren’t inspected by the health department, they can be shut down by city or state health officials if it’s determined that products are putting community health at risk.

Eggs And Meat

Although eggs are higher risk for spoilage than cottage foods like jams, small-scale egg vendors don’t need inspections or permits to sell ungraded eggs. In eggs, “ungraded” means they haven’t been inspected or sorted into groups based on appearance. Egg grades are determined by factors like the appearance of the shell, egg yolk, and egg white.

In Texas, all meat sold to the public must go through a state-approved processing center. No one is allowed to sell meat from an animal slaughtered at their home or farm. Other required permits for selling meat in Texas include a food handler’s license and a health permit from city, county, or state health departments.

Fresh, Local Foods

When it comes to locally grown fruits and veggies, most of the time permits aren’t needed to sell whole, fresh produce. That means you’re the inspector, and freshness that you can see, feel, and taste is the measure of quality. For questions about produce cultivation including pesticide use, farm sustainability, and location, you can ask the farmer who grew it at the time of purchase.

Although there isn’t the same kind of paper trail on market produce as the “Grown in California” stickers on fruit at the grocery store, the ability to ask the grower directly about farming practices provides greater supply chain transparency for market produce than many larger-scale stores can offer.

local food for every budget

As of September 2026, the price of food in the US has risen over 30% since 2020. Putting food on the table, let alone high-quality food, is a bigger challenge for Texas families than ever. SFC’s program Double Up Food Bucks Texas (Double Up Texas) supports fair access to high quality food by doubling SNAP benefits to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables at over 100 Texas farmers’ markets and grocery stores. Plus, Double Up Texas boosts sales for Texas farmers and strengthens the local economy. That’s a WIN WIN WIN!

Your SNAP X 5 at Texas Farmers Market

developer — Sun, 24 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

SFC Farmers’ Markets Multiply SNAP Benefits to Feed Families and Pay Farmers

SFC Farmers’ Market shoppers can stretch their SNAP benefits further at Your SNAP X 5 on Sunday, May 24. In addition to a wide range of local food vendors, both SFC Farmers’ Market locations will host live music and children’s activities.

At both SFC Farmers’ Market locations, SNAP shoppers can receive five times the value of their benefits up to $150 to buy more local fruits and vegetables. SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a federal program that supports consistent access to nutritious food for low-income households.

By multiplying SNAP benefits at the farmers’ market, Your SNAP X 5 both increases affordable access to local food and increases sales for small-scale farmers.

SNAP is multiplied through Sustainable Food Center’s (SFC) Double Up Food Bucks Texas program. Double Up Food Bucks never expire and can be spent at any participating location.

How to Multiply your SNAP X 5
It’s free and easy for SNAP shoppers to multiply benefits. Shoppers can visit the market information booth with their SNAP EBT / Lonestar Card and choose how much SNAP to multiply. No additional registration or paperwork necessary. SNAP shoppers can spend their baseline monthly benefits on local produce and a variety of market products, including:

Dairy
Eggs
Bread
Meat
Plants that produce food

After a shopper’s baseline SNAP is multiplied by five, the bonus benefits can be spent on fresh fruits and vegetables with local vendors. Double Up Texas and Your SNAP x 5 increase the consumption of fresh, nutrient-dense produce.

While Your SNAP X 5 is one day only, the Double Up Food Bucks Texas program runs at SFC Farmers’ Markets and 80 market and grocery store locations across Texas. Double Up Texas and Your SNAP X 5 is made possible thanks to funding from USDA NIFA.

Your SNAP X 5 at Texas Farmers Market

developer — Sat, 23 May 2026 14:00:00 +0000

SFC Farmers’ Markets Multiply SNAP Benefits to Feed Families and Pay Farmers

SFC Farmers’ Market shoppers can stretch their SNAP benefits further at Your SNAP X 5 on Saturday, May 23. In addition to a wide range of local food vendors, both SFC Farmers’ Market locations will host live music and children’s activities.

By multiplying SNAP benefits at the farmers’ market, Your SNAP X 5 both increases affordable access to local food and increases sales for small-scale farmers.

SNAP is multiplied through Sustainable Food Center’s (SFC) Double Up Food Bucks Texas program. Double Up Food Bucks never expire and can be spent at any participating location.

Dairy
Eggs
Bread
Meat
Plants that produce food

Double Up Fresh Bucks / Double Up Dólares Frescos

Sarah Collica — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 22:40:27 +0000

SFC’s Temporary Relief Program at Participating Farmers’ Markets in Texas

Sustainable Food Center (SFC) is partnering with select farmers’ markets across Texas to offer Double Up Fresh Bucks / Double Up Dólares Frescos – a temporary relief program to help families and farmers affected by the federal government shutdown.

This program provides market dollars that shoppers can use to buy food and drinks at select farmers’ markets in the Double Up Food Bucks Texas network. Double Up Fresh Bucks / Double Up Dólares Frescos helps families stretch their budgets while ensuring local farmers continue to earn income from selling fresh food in their communities.

How it Works

Starting November 15, 2025, Double Up Fresh Bucks / Double Up Dólares Frescos will be available at select farmers’ markets in Texas. Participating farmers’ markets (see full list below) can offer $10-$30 per customer per day in Double Up Fresh Bucks / Double Up Dólares Frescos. Each market will decide how much they are able to distribute per customer per day.

Shoppers can use Double Up Fresh Bucks / Double Up Dólares Frescos for any food or drink items at the participating market. Double Up Fresh Bucks / Double Up Dólares Frescos are available on a first-come, first-served basis. All Double Up Fresh Bucks / Double Up Dólares Frescos expire on December 31, 2025.

How to Participate

Find a participating farmers’ market (see list below)
Visit the market information booth
Ask to receive Double Up Fresh Bucks / Double Up Dólares Fresco
Shop the market

Participating Farmers’ Markets

Thank you to the farmers’ markets in the Double Up Food Bucks Texas network who have opted to participate in Double Up Fresh Bucks / Double Up Dólares Frescos to support families and farmers in their communities. This temporary program ends at participating markets on December 31, 2025.

North Texas

Your Voice Matters: Tell Congress to Protect SNAP

Sarah Collica — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 21:46:07 +0000

As the federal government shutdown continues, millions of Texans are at risk of losing access to food. Right now, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be distributed for November.

Last updated: October 31, 12:00 Pm

When SNAP stops, families go hungry and farmers lose income.

More than 3.5 million Texans, including 1.7 million children, rely on SNAP to put food on the table. Behind the numbers are real people: parents, children, older adults, and essential workers who deserve the dignity of reliable access to nutritious food.

Your voice can help protect this vital program. Tell Congress to protect SNAP today!

Your voice matters – share how SNAP impacts you personally to tell Congress that protecting SNAP should be a top priority.

Whether you’re a SNAP recipient, a farmer, employee of a SNAP-authorized grocery store or farmers’ market, or a community member who believes everyone deserves access to healthy food, your voice matters.

Follow these steps to contact your Congress members and share information about the importance of SNAP with your network:

Find Your Congress members.

Visit house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative and enter your zipcode to find your Texas Representative. Texas Senators are Ted Cruz and John Cornyn.

2. Tell Congress Why Protecting SNAP Matters to You.

Once you’ve identified your members, click “Contact” beneath their profile to call or write your message. Every message, email, and call is counted and recorded.

Your voice and who you are matter. Consider how your personal experiences with SNAP show the importance of the program.

Not sure what to say? Find the category you identify with below and use the bullet points to start telling your story.

Once you’ve sent your message, log your advocacy to help us track engagement.

3. Share Social Media Resources to Raise Awareness in Your Network.

Spread the word by sharing SFC’s posts on social media. SFC is consistently engaging with advocacy and relief resources on social media. Follow and repost from:

Instagram: @sfclocal
Facebook and LinkedIn: @Sustainable Food Center

When you share our posts, it raises awareness about food access resources, the importance of protecting SNAP, and helps SFC connect with more Texans directly.

Messaging Resources: SNAP Recipients and Community Members

Tell Congress Why SNAP Matters

Tell your Congressional representatives why SNAP matters — whether you use it yourself or simply believe everyone deserves access to healthy food. Personal stories make a difference.

First, introduce yourself and say that you are a constituent. Then, tell them that you are calling to urge immediate action to fund the SNAP program. Share a story about why SNAP matters to you.

Here are some examples of what you can share:

If you use SNAP or Double Up Food Bucks

“SNAP helps me afford fresh fruits and vegetables for my family.”

“Double Up Food Bucks lets me buy more healthy food and support local farmers.”

“Losing SNAP benefits would mean skipping meals to make ends meet.”

If you don’t use SNAP but care about food access:

“Everyone deserves to eat healthy food, and SNAP helps make that possible.”

“As a [farmer/vendor/neighbor/community member], I see how important SNAP is for our local economy.”

“SNAP supports families, farmers, and small businesses in my community. We can’t afford to lose it.”
“I am calling for immediate action to protect SNAP funding and ensure uninterrupted access for the Texans who need it most. Every day without SNAP benefits means:
- Families are forced to skip meals or go without fresh food.
- Farmers and local food businesses are losing vital income.
- Communities are losing access to affordable, healthy options.”

Messaging Resources: Farmers

Tell Congress Why SNAP Matters

SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks are lifeline for farmers and local food businesses across Texas. Every SNAP dollar spent at farmers markets or farm stands helps farmers earn vital income while families get the fresh, healthy food they need.

The federal shutdown threatens SNAP funding — and with it, the livelihoods of farmers and producers who rely on these sales.

Here’s what you can say when contacting your members::

“My farm depends on SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks to sell fresh produce to local families.”
“Losing SNAP benefits means fewer customers at farmers markets and less income for my farm.”
“SNAP helps me keep my farm sustainable while supporting my community’s access to healthy food.”
“Double Up Food Bucks stretches SNAP dollars so families can afford more fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s essential for my farm business.”

Messaging Resources: Double Up Texas Markets & Grocery Stores

Tell Congress Why SNAP Matters

Food programs like SNAP and nutrition incentive programs like Double Up Food Bucks Texas (Double Up Texas) not only support families bringing home more nutritious food but strengthen local food economies. Since January 2025, sales at participating Double Up Texas farmers’ markets and grocery stores alone have generated over $200,000 worth of economic activity through SNAP and Double Up Texas sales.

This means more money for Texas farmers and food businesses, and more healthy food for families.

Here’s what markets and retailers can share with their representatives:

“At [location or organization name] we serve customers who rely on SNAP benefits to meet their families’ food needs. At [name of location], we double the value of SNAP benefits so that every SNAP dollar goes further for fresh, healthy food.”
“Our [farmers/vendors/local food producers] depend on SNAP purchases as a key part of their income. Customers depend on these benefits to put food on the table.”
“The federal shutdown threatens the timely distribution of SNAP benefits, which would directly impact [our farmers’ market; our programming; families, farmers, and retailers across Texas].”
“We are calling for immediate action to protect SNAP funding and ensure uninterrupted access for the Texans who need it most. Every day without SNAP benefits means:
- Families are forced to skip meals or go without fresh food.
- Farmers and local food businesses are losing vital income.
- Communities are losing access to affordable, healthy options.”

Your Voice Can Protect SNAP

Together, we can make sure every Texan has access to healthy, local food.

Tell Congress to protect SNAP today.

Your voice matters, your story matters, and your action makes a difference. Let’s keep food on tables and dollars in our communities.

SFC is actively adapting our programs to support families facing food insecurity and Texas farmers during this uncertain time — more updates to come soon.

Texas Food Access Resource List: Support During the Federal Government Shutdown

Sarah Collica — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 19:31:13 +0000

Following the federal government shutdown that began on October 1, 2025, many Texans are facing uncertainty about access to essential food resources. At Sustainable Food Center (SFC), our priority continues to be supporting Texas families and farmers with fair and affordable access to local food.

SFC Farmers’ Markets and Programs Remain Open

SFC Farmers’ Markets remain open every Saturday from 9 AM – 1 PM and continue to offer:

Triple WIC – three times monthly WIC benefits for fresh fruits and vegetables. WIC yellow market dollars do not expire.
Double Up Food Bucks Texas – double the value of SNAP benefits for fresh fruits and vegetables. Yellow Double Up Food Bucks and SNAP red market dollars do not expire.

Our Commitment to Families and Farmers

SFC’s focus remains supporting Texas families and farmers who depend on federally funded programs including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and Double Up Food Bucks Texas (Double Up Texas) to put food on the table.

Food programs like SNAP and WIC and nutrition incentive programs like Double Up Texas not only support families bringing home more nutritious food but also support small-scale farmers by directing federal dollars into local food economies. Since January 2025, sales at Double Up Texas sites alone have generated over $200,000 worth of economic activity for Texas farmers’ markets through SNAP and Double Up Texas sales.

Food Access Resources Across Texas

Find below a regularly updated list of food access resources across Texas, including regional food banks and community organizations providing immediate food relief. This is not a complete list, and more help may be available in your area.

Statewide Tools

FindHelp.Org

Enter your zip code and browse the “Food” category to find resources near you.

211

211 is a non-emergency hotline that connects callers to social services in your area including food and childcare. Call 211 or visit 211texas.org. After choosing a language, select Option 1 to find resources and help in your community.

Texas Health and Human Services FAQ

Find answers to questions regarding how the federal government shutdown affects SNAP and other benefits in Texas.

Texas Health and Human Services Website & Your Texas Benefits Website

Updates about available SNAP benefits will be posted on the Your Texas Benefits website, Your Texas Benefits mobile app, and on the Texas Health and Human Services website. You can also call 2-1-1 to get the latest information.

Regional Food Access Resources

WEST Texas

High Plains Food Bank (Amarillo)

Lubbock Dream Center Resource Pocket Pal

United Way El Paso Resource List

Central Texas

Austin Public Library City Resource Hub

Central Texas Food Bank (Austin)

San Antonio Resource Directory

North Texas

North Texas Food Bank (Plano)

Tarrant Area Food Bank (Weatherford)

East Texas

East Texas Food Bank (Tyler)

Southeast Texas Food Bank (Beaumont)

South Texas

Coastal Bend Food Bank (Corpus Christi)

Food Bank of Rio Grande Valley (Pharr)

South Texas Food Bank (Laredo)

We’re Here for Texas Communities

SFC will continue to share updates as they become available. Together, we’ll keep nourishing our Texas communities with fresh, healthy, local food.

Your SNAP X 5

Anna-Kay Reeves — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 14:00:00 +0000

SFC Farmers’ Markets Multiply SNAP Benefits to Feed Families and Pay Farmers

SFC Farmers’ Market shoppers can stretch their SNAP benefits further at Your SNAP X 5 on Saturday, June 14. In addition to a wide range of local food vendors, both SFC Farmers’ Market locations will host live music and children’s activities.

By multiplying SNAP benefits at the farmers’ market, Your SNAP X 5 both increases affordable access to local food and increases sales for small-scale farmers. Without in-school meals, summer can be a challenging season for food security.

“As the school year ends, Your SNAP x 5 provides an opportunity for families to purchase more fruits and vegetables at the events on June 14 and throughout the summer season,” said Brita Van Fossen, SFC Food Access Manager.

SNAP is multiplied through Sustainable Food Center’s (SFC) Double Up Food Bucks Texas program. Double Up Food Bucks never expire and can be spent at any participating location.

Market vendors selling fresh produce, meat, and dairy products reported a 308% increase at the previous Your SNAP x 5 event. This increase deomonstrates the power of SNAP incentives to strengthen local economies and reduce food insecurity.

On June 14, seasonal favorites like peaches, berries, and tomatoes will be available. “Farmers will bring the best offerings of the year,” said SFC’s Central Texas Farm Viability Director Amy Gallo. “By ensuring that everyone can access this bumper crop, we’re supporting small farmers’ earnings before extreme heat and drought in late summer lead to a drop off in production and income.”

How to Multiply your SNAP X 5

It’s free and easy for SNAP shoppers to multiply benefits. Shoppers can visit the market information booth with their SNAP EBT / Lonestar Card and choose how much SNAP to multiply. No additional registration or paperwork necessary. SNAP shoppers can spend their baseline monthly benefits on local produce and a variety of market products, including:

Dairy
Eggs
Bread
Meat
Plants that produce food

Your SNAP x 5

Sarah Collica — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Your SNAP x 5 event is on March 15 at SFC Farmers’ Markets from 9 AM – 1 PM!

Looking to stretch your SNAP dollars? Come to Your SNAP x 5 at both SFC Farmers’ Market locations—Sunset Valley (3200 Jones Rd.) and Downtown (422 Guadalupe St.)—and multiply your benefits by 5!

Turn $10 into $50, $20 into $100, and $30 into $150 in fresh fruits and vegetables!

We’ll also have giveaways and music to make your shopping trip even better.

Don’t miss out on this amazing chance to get more for your SNAP benefits and enjoy a fun-filled day at the market!
Questions? Call our bilingual SFC Help Desk at (512) 730-1807, Mon.-Sat. 9 AM – 12 PM.