Why Maine Harvest Bucks Matters So Much at Kittery Community Market

At Kittery Community Market, we believe fresh, local food should not be a luxury. It should be something families can bring home, something children grow up with, and something our whole community can feel proud to support.

That is exactly why Maine Harvest Bucks matters so much.

Maine Harvest Bucks helps SNAP shoppers stretch their food dollars when they shop for fresh fruits and vegetables at participating farmers' markets. For many shoppers, that extra support can make the difference between buying a little produce and buying enough to truly feed their household well.

And that matters.

Maine Harvest Bucks sign at the Info Booth

It means a parent can say yes to more healthy food. It means an older adult living on a fixed income can bring home more fresh produce. It means someone trying to make a tight monthly budget work can leave the market with more nourishment, more choice, and more dignity.

More Than a Food Access Program

This program helps people eat better, but its impact goes far beyond that.

Maine Harvest Bucks is also a direct investment in local farmers, food producers, and the local economy. When SNAP shoppers receive extra incentive dollars to spend on fruits and vegetables, that money goes right back into the hands of the growers and small businesses working hard to feed our communities. It supports real farms, real families, and real livelihoods here in Maine.

That is part of what makes this program so powerful. It does more than address food access. It strengthens the entire local food system.

• It helps farmers earn more income.

• It helps markets serve more people.

• It helps keep food dollars circulating in the local economy.

• It helps build stronger connections between neighbors and the people who grow their food.

Grateful for the Work of MFFM

We also want to give heartfelt credit to the Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets. We are deeply grateful to the Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets, which created and administers Maine Harvest Bucks and works to sustain the program through a combination of federal funding, foundation support, and donations.

Their leadership has helped farmers' markets across Maine expand food access, support local agriculture, and connect more families with fresh, healthy food. Their work behind the scenes has made this program possible for markets like ours, and we are incredibly thankful for their commitment.

Why It Matters So Much at Kittery Community Market

For Kittery Community Market, Maine Harvest Bucks is not just one more program. It is central to who we are.

Our market exists to bring people together around local food, local agriculture, and local community. We want to be a place where people feel welcome, where families can shop with pride, where farmers can thrive, and where access to healthy food is not reserved only for those who can most easily afford it.

Maine Harvest Bucks helps make that vision real.

• It helps make the market more inclusive.

• It helps make fresh food more accessible.

• It helps ensure that supporting local farms and supporting our neighbors can happen at the same time.

Why We Are Fundraising This Year

That is why this year’s need is so important.

Due to federal cuts, Maine Harvest Bucks is facing a major funding shortfall. Because of that, Kittery Community Market now needs to raise funds to support half of our projected Maine Harvest Bucks use for SNAP shoppers during the 2026 season.

This is a major commitment, but it is one we believe in deeply because we have seen the value of this program firsthand.

• We know it matters to the people who use it.

• We know it matters to the farmers and vendors who benefit from those purchases.

• We know it matters to the health and strength of our community as a whole.

• Now we need help to sustain it.

How Your Support Helps

We are asking our community to come together to support this vital effort through personal donations, business sponsorships, and shared community support.

If you have ever wanted to make a meaningful impact close to home, this is one of the most direct ways to do it.

Your donation helps a local family bring home more fresh produce.

Your sponsorship helps strengthen local farm sales.

Your support helps Kittery Community Market remain a place where access, agriculture, and community all work hand in hand.

This is the kind of program that creates goodness in every direction.

• It supports healthier food choices.

• It supports hardworking farmers and food producers.

• It supports a stronger local economy.

• It supports a more connected, more caring community.

  
  

Help Us Keep This Vital Program Going

And in a time when so many families are feeling stretched, that support matters more than ever.

We are proud to be part of a market community that believes in showing up for one another. We are proud to support local agriculture. And we are proud to stand behind a program that helps fresh, local food reach more people.

But we cannot do it alone.

If you believe in food access, local farms, and building a healthier, stronger community, we hope you will consider supporting Maine Harvest Bucks at Kittery Community Market this season.

Personal donations and business sponsorships are welcome.

You can donate through our dedicated Give Lively campaign: Support Maine Harvest Bucks at Kittery Community Market.

Together, we can help keep this program going. Together, we can support our SNAP shoppers, strengthen our farmers and vendors, and make sure more fresh, local food reaches the people who need it most.

DONATE TO MAINE HARVEST BUCKS AT KITTERY COMMUNITY MARKET

That is what community looks like. And that is worth funding.