During the Government Shutdown, Good Food Bucks Partners Ramped up their Support for Food Access

Chase Barnes
8 hours ago
10 min read

West Windsor Community Farmers' Market Photo Credit: West Windsor Community Farmers' Market Staff

If you'd like to know how you can support food access organizations across NJ click here to go to that section of this post!

It has been so inspiring to see how Good Food Bucks partners have mobilized their organizations and businesses to support families in need during November. The government shutdown and the withholding of SNAP payments made it difficult for many people in our communities to continue feeding their families. This new reality led a lot of farmers markets, farms, and community organizations to leverage their resources so they could provide food and services to our neighbors who needed it.

Below you will learn about all the amazing work Good Food Bucks partners did to serve SNAP customers during the pause in SNAP payments this November. Many of these partners only ramped up their existing food access programming to meet the increase in demand for emergency food. Each organization's resilience highlights the importance food access is to their mission, whether that is through running food drives, offering free produce, or doubling their own market bucks.

We encourage you to support these amazing farms, markets, and non-profit organizations so they can keep doing amazing work in their communities. Links to their websites and social media pages will be below if you'd like to learn more about the work they do!

All partners mentioned in this blog post provided free fruits and vegetables to their customers in November, many with funding support from City Green Inc.

Atlantic County

AtlantiCare Mobile Market

AtlantiCare Mobile Market offered free fruits and vegetables to customers in November, with funding support from City Green, Inc.

C.R.O.P.S Fisherman's Park Farmers Market Photo Credit: C.R.O.P.S. Staff

C.R.O.P.S. NJ

C.R.O.P.S NJ is an non-profit based in Atlantic City. This November, they organized a food drive the week of the NJEA teachers convention. The food collected was distributed to partner organizations and Atlantic City food pantries.

In addition any shopper impacted by the government shutdown received a 10 dollar voucher that could be spent on fresh produce at C.R.O.P.S. Baltic Plaza Apartments Farmers Market.

Check out their website and follow them on instagram for more information!

Reed's Farm

Reed's Farm offered a 50% discount on produce to customers who have SNAP, their ID or an income indicator.

Check out their website and instagram to learn more!

Bergen County

Closter Farm

Throughout November, Closter Farm is provided a 50% discount on fresh fruits and vegetables to all SNAP customers regardless of whether they paid with their EBT card.

To receive this discount, a shopper would have to show their EBT card at checkout to receive 50% off fruits and vegetables.

Check out their website and instagram for more information about their hours and farm!

Camden County

Collingswood Farmers Market

Throughout November at Collingswood Farmers Market, SNAP shoppers received up to $25 dollars in market bucks regardless of whether they paid with their EBT card. In addition, Good Food Bucks coupons were given out for every dollar of market bucks a person received.

All market bucks and Good Food Bucks coupons expire at the end of November when the market closes for the season.

In addition, with the support of donations from the Collingswood Borough Community, Collingswood Farmers Market provided $15,050 dollars worth of Fruit and Vegetable Vouchers, which helped feed over 300 families during the shutdown.

Check out their website and instagram to find out more information about the market!

Rancocas Woods Farmers Market

To support families in need, Rancocas Woods Farmers Market made sandwiches weekly for Cathedral Kitchen in Camden, NJ. They also did food drives with Cathedral Kitchen and the South Jersey Food Bank.

Check out their website and instagram to find out more information about the market!

Cumberland County

Kumaries Garden and Market

Kumaries Garden and Market offered free fruits and vegetables to customers in November, with funding support from City Green, Inc.

Check out their website for more information about their store hours and address.

Essex County

Beth's Greenhouse Farmers Market

Throughout November, Beth’s Greenhouse Farmers Market continued its SNAP navigator program. SNAP navigators were at the market encouraging people to sign up for SNAP and providing guidance about the program. In addition, their Women's Wellness Food Farmacy stayed open.

To learn more about Beth's Greenhouse Farmers Market and the Women's Wellness Food Farmacy check out their website.

Greater Newark Conservancy

Greater Newark Conservancy collaborated with growers and food access organizations across Newark and Essex County to provide resources and direct services to vulnerable folks who were at risk of losing benefits. Also, the organization offered free fruits and vegetables to customers in November, with funding support from City Green, Inc.

To learn more about Greater Newark Conservancy check out their website and instagram!

Montclair Community Farms

Montclair Community Farms offered free fruits and vegetables to customers in November, with funding support from City Green, Inc.

To learn more about Montclair Community Farms check out their website and instagram!

Montclair Farmers Market

Montclair Farmers Market offered free fruits and vegetables to customers in November, with funding support from City Green, Inc.

To learn more about Montclair Farmers Market check out their website and instagram!

Our CommUNITY Grocery Store powered by Clinton Hill Community Action

Our CommUNITY Grocery Store offered free fruits and vegetables to customers in November, with funding support from City Green, Inc.

To learn more about Our CommUNITY Grocery Store check out their website and instagram!

Urban Agriculture Cooperative

Urban Agriculture Cooperative worked to increase their wholesale program to get more produce to their partner organizations and customers. In collaboration with their farmers, drivers, and

funders they got more produce to people in need.

To learn more about Urban Agriculture Cooperative check out their website .

Hudson County

Riverview Farmers Market

During November, SNAP shoppers at Riverview Farmers Market in Jersey City were able to get Good Food Bucks, and Market Bucks. For any amount of Good Food Bucks a shopper received they also got matching market bucks that could be spent on SNAP eligible items at the market.

Throughout the season, Riverview Farmers Market collects food donations from their vendors at the end of each market day. This food is then distributed to those in need by "The We Project" a non profit based in Jersey City.

To learn more about Riverview Farmers Market and their hours please check out their website or instagram!

Mercer County

Metuchen Farmers Market

Every Saturday, the Metuchen Farmers Market staff collected food, personal care products and other items at the market managers table. These items go directly to the Food Pantry in town.

In addition, the Borough Council President leveraged his social media reach to increase awareness of the weekly food drive at the market.

For more information about Metuchen Farmers Market and the work they do check out their website and instagram.

West Windsor Community

Farmers' Market

At West Windsor Community Farmers Market shoppers got market bucks up to 20 dollars on November 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd. The only requirements to get these bucks were to show your SNAP card at the market managers table.

They have also turned the Little Free Library at the market into a Little Free Food Pantry where shoppers could get non-perishable foods and personal care products.

Visit the little free shelf stable food pantry for free food located at the West Windsor Art Center.

For more information about West Windsor Community Farmers' Market check out their website and instagram.

Middlesex County

Highland Park Farmers Market

The Highland Park Farmers Market has existing food access programs with the Highland Park Community Food Pantry and with the Saint Peter's University Hospital Family Health Center's Quality Improvement Program-New Jersey.

Throughout the farmers market's season, customers at the Highland Park Farmers Market redeemed vouchers (which were provided to eligible participants by the Highland Park Community Food Pantry and/or the Saint Peter's University Hospital Family Health Center's Quality Improvement Program-New Jersey) for food from the farmers market vendors. Both of these voucher distribution programs will be active during November, through the end of the 2025 season (December 12).

The Highland Park Farmers Market has also started a food donation drive that will begin October 31 and run through the rest of the 2025 season (ending December 12). The proceeds from this food donation program will be donated to the Highland Park Community Food Pantry and Be The Change NJ, another Highland Park-based food distribution and community service nonprofit.

To learn more about Highland Park Farmers Market and the work they do check out their website and instagram.

Monmouth County

Asprocolas Acres

Asprocolas Acres offered free fruits and vegetables to customers in November, with funding support from City Green, Inc.

Ocean County

Fresh Markets NJ LLC (Asbury Fresh Market)

Asbury Park Farmers Market Photo Credit: Good Food Bucks Staff

Fresh Markets NJ LLC, the organization who runs Asbury Fresh Market, ran two initiatives that helped support fresh food access this November.

First, they collected fresh produce through the Interfaith Neighbors and brought it to feed students at Asbury Park Schools. This food was provided by market customers who buy extra produce with the purpose of donating it to this cause. The second initiative they ran is taking monetary donations at the market that will be used to buy produce for students meals at Asbury Park Schools.

Ornery Acres Farm Market @ Krowicki Farms

Ornery Acres Farm Market @ Krowicki Farms offered free fruits and vegetables to customers in November, with funding support from City Green, Inc.

Passaic County

The Harvest

Throughout November, New Hope's food pantry experienced a large increase in need at their food pantry. Throughout the day they were constantly giving out food to people who came to their food pantry. Currently they are running their Give Food, Give Hope campaign which increased the amount of food their food pantry participants had access to during the month of November. To meet this increase in need they are worked in collaboration with farmers and organizations like Fairgrown Farm to get more fresh produce out to people.

To support them, click here to donate. Supporting them monetarily allows them to buy food items that can be given out to people who come to their food pantry.

In addition, they are in need of volunteers during the week in the afternoon to support the food pantry.

For more information check out their website or instagram.

City Green

In addition to continuing to offer the Good Food Bucks program, City Green offered special discounts and free food vouchers to its Farm Stand and Veggie Mobile shoppers.

At the Passaic City Hall Veggie Mobile, all shoppers have received a blanket 50% discount on fresh produce items for the month November. At City Green Farm-Eco Center farm stands in Clifton and at the Lou Costello Park Veggie Mobile in Paterson, any shoppers in need received a special $10 voucher for free fresh produce from the farm stand. City Green farm's have also provided 1,500 pounds of food in the month of November to local food pantries and food distribution efforts, including CUMAC, St. Peter’s Haven, A Better Market’s Food Box Distribution, and LocalShare’s Gleaning Program.

For more information check out their website.

A Better Market

A Better Market has sent over 135 produce bags brimming with fruits and veggies to members of the Paterson community from veterans, and first responders to families. This work is being done in collaboration with Fulfill NJ.

For more information check out their website.

West Milford Farmers Market

West Milford Farmers Market offered free fruits and vegetables to their customers in November with funding support from City Green Inc.

Check out their website and instagram for more information!

Montclair Farmers Market Photo Credit: Red Root Marketing

Somerset County

Somerset County Regional

Farmers Market

During November, shoppers received 1 SNAP coin 1 Good Food Bucks coin and 3 SAFE Market Coins for every dollar remaining on their SNAP card. These coins could be redeemed to purchase eligible items at the market.

Free Thanksgiving Dinner

Free socks, hygiene items and winter clothes will be given to dinner guests in addition to a thanksgiving meal
This event will be on Sunday November 23rd at 12:30-2:30pm at PeopleCare Center at 120 Finderne Ave, Bridgewater, NJ
Check out the SAFE facebook page to find out what types of donations they need!

Farmers markets, Farm Stands, Food Pantries and food access organizations across our state really stepped up to support their communities during the government shutdown. This work will continue through the end of this year into 2026 because this spike in need will not go down anytime soon. Thanksgiving, which is typically a time of reflection, gratitude and eating good food will be very difficult for many families this year. This is why supporting these organizations especially those running Thanksgiving drives is so essential. Every family should be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with dignity and plenty this year. Below find out about organization you can support this winter season.

Support

For anyone who is interested in supporting Good Food Buck partners, food pantries, or other organizations that are doing food security work, here is a list of some organizations you can donate to. We encourage our NJ community members to donate to their local food pantry or food security organization in November and beyond, as pantries are likely to be overwhelmed by the surge in demand. Donations don't just have to be financial you can donate your time by volunteering or checking out what these organizations need for food drives, food pantries or thanksgiving dinners.

Use the NJ 211 SNAP Resource Guide to find food pantries and soup kitchens that need donations in non perishable and perishable food items, personal care products, clothes, as well as money.

Somerset Regional Farmers Market (Somerville Alliance for Food Education)

Free Thanksgiving Dinner even on Sunday November 23rd from 12:30-2:30pm