Navigating the world of EBT can be a confusing topic, particularly when it comes to deciphering at which retailers a person can utilize their card to purchase household groceries.
It may seem obvious to some that the most difficult part of the SNAP benefits system is the application process and obtaining the card.
However, in reality, many participants may argue that the most difficult part is determining which grocery and other retail stores within their neighborhood will accept their EBT card without a hassle.
It can also be confusing to determine if coupons, perks programs, or other discounts applied in-store could affect EBT eligibility.
Does The Fresh Market Take EBT?
Yes, The Fresh Market accepts a variety of payment methods, including EBT payment cards, within all of their retail stores.
EBT cards are not accepted for The Fresh Market’s curbside pickup or delivery methods.
Additionally, online orders from The Fresh Market’s website are not available to those using SNAP benefits.
It is up to the governing authority of each state to determine what stores or platforms will accept EBT cards for online orders.
For example, the state of Minnesota only accepts online orders with EBT at Aldi, Amazon, Hugo’s Family Marketplace, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Walmart, and Whole Foods.
You can click here to view a comprehensive list of states and retailers that offer SNAP Online Purchases.
What Foods At The Fresh Market Qualify For EBT?
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Dairy products like milk and yogurt
- Breads, Grains, and Cereals
- Snack Foods like chips, popcorn, cakes, etc.
- Complementary meal items like spices, baking soda, sugar, etc.
- Non-Alcoholic Beverages like water, Gatorade, and teas (bottled only)
- Seeds and plants used to grow food for the home
- Baby food including formula, cereals, and juices
- Packaged Ice
Below, you can find Recipe Inspirations and Prep Times from The Fresh Market.
Breakfast recipes:
- Avocado Toast: 10 minutes
- Egg & Olive Tartines: 30 minutes
Entree meal recipes:
- Quesadillas: 20 minutes
- Easy Spanish Paella: 30 minutes
- Salmon with Cherries, Farro, and Arugula: 30 minutes
- Spicy Watermelon and Berry Salsa: 35 minutes
Dessert recipes:
- Blueberry Maple Honey Popsicles: 15 minutes + additional time to freeze
- Dairy Free Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars: 2 hours
- Dreamsicle Pie: 30 minutes + overnight
- Sugar Cookie Bars: 1 hour
Holiday Favorites:
- Winter Squash Soup: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Ginger Chocolate Chip Cookies: 30 minutes
- Roast Turkey: 5 hours and 30 minutes
- Christmas Cornbread: 25 minutes
Can I Purchase Prescriptions, Supplements, And Vitamins?
No, EBT cards cannot generally be used to purchase prescriptions, supplements, or vitamins.
One way to quickly determine if a product is considered food, instead of a supplement or vitamin, is to check the label.
Labels that contain the section “Supplement Facts” are considered supplements, and therefore, are not accepted by EBT.
Generally, any product with the label “Nutritional Facts” is considered to be a food product and should be accepted by SNAP benefits.
This is important to note because some protein powders will say “Nutritional Facts” while others say “Supplement Facts.”
The same goes for pre-workout powders.
If you are having difficulty determining whether or not a product is considered a food item or supplement, check with a cashier or manager of the store.
Can I Buy A Gift Card Using My EBT Card?
No, gift cards cannot be purchased using an EBT card.
Even if the intended use of the gift card is to purchase household groceries, The Fresh Market gift cards are not EBT eligible.
What Cannot Be Purchased At The Fresh Market With My EBT?
- Gift Cards
- Alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, liquor)
- Cigarettes or tobacco
- Live animals*
- Pet food
- Cleaning supplies or other miscellaneous household products (paper towels, toilet paper)
- Hygiene items like deodorant or body spray
- Cosmetic items like makeup or nail polish
- Supplements, vitamins, or medicines**
- Foods that are prepared hot or cold***
- Gift baskets that contain toys or other nonfood items
- Magazines or cookbooks
*Live animals are not eligible for purchase with an EBT card.
The exception is shellfish or fish that have been caught and removed from a river, lake, or ocean.
Animals (cows, pigs, etc.) that were previously slaughtered are eligible to be purchased with an EBT card.
**Products like energy drinks, pre-workout protein powder, and other items sold with a “Supplement Label” cannot be purchased with an EBT card.
However, if the product has a “Nutritional Label,” it may be considered a food item and would be EBT eligible.
***The USDA states that pre-prepared heated foods, hot foods, and cold foods are not considered to be staples or essential food products.
These foods are not purchased to be prepared and consumed at home, rather they are purchased ready to eat.
Some examples of these types of foods include a cold sandwich or salad from the take-home section or deli, coffee or tea, soup, fried chicken, or pizza.
What If I Try To Buy Something That Is Not EBT Eligible?
If you accidentally attempt to purchase a food item that is not EBT eligible, the computer will notify the cashier and the remaining balance will not decrease.
For example, imagine that you attempt to purchase a total of five items but three of them are not eligible for purchase with an EBT card.
After the cashier swipes the EBT card, the remaining balance will reflect the total of the three ineligible items and will need to be paid another way (cash, credit or debit card, or coupon).
Can I Return EBT Eligible Items To The Fresh Market?
Yes, you can return items to The Fresh Market even if you used your EBT card to purchase them.
An example of when you might want to return an item is if the item is damaged in some way that occurred prior to purchase.
The Fresh Market’s return policy states that they will refund or replace a product if the customer is not 100% satisfied.
They back their products up with a No Hassle Return Policy.
However, it is important to note that the USDA states that SNAP customers are not eligible to receive their refund in cash.
The funds are distributed back to the EBT card originally used to purchase the food item.
Can I Use Coupons With My EBT Card?
Yes, any coupons for The Fresh Market can be applied at checkout even if using an EBT card.
Coupons can be loaded into Perks Members’ accounts online and then redeemed in-store.
There is no maximum number of coupons that can be added to your account.
However, The Fresh Market does state that loading more than 100 coupons to a Perks account will likely cause a slowdown during checkout as the computer processes the coupons.
Each Coupon’s expiration date will be displayed on the Perks account.
New coupons are added to the website throughout the month as they are made available by the manufacturers.
The Fresh Market recommends checking out the website frequently for newly added deals.
Customers should be aware that coupons used to purchase household items that are not EBT approved will result in a balance that needs to be paid with cash, check, or a credit/debit card.
The Fresh Market also releases a Weekly Ad to showcase their featured items.
These items may not require customers to download a digital coupon or be a part of their Perks program.
The Fresh Markets Perks Program
The Fresh Market offers their own perks program, similar to what a variety of other stores do, which allows shoppers to access discounts and special prices using their rewards account.
SNAP benefits customers can still use their EBT cards while shopping with The Fresh Market Perks.
Customers can enroll in the Perks program on the website.
The phone number associated with the Perks account must be entered when checking out at your local The Fresh Market in order to receive points.
Discounts earned can also be used at a few retailers other than The Fresh Market including Macy’s, Lin’s, Dan’s, or Dick’s locations.
How Does The Perks Grocery Rewards Program Operate?
The more money a Perks user spends, the more they save.
Perks can be used on either groceries or fuel.
Punch in your phone number at checkout to earn these discounts.
Perks accumulate throughout the month, and every dollar that is spent is equivalent to 1 Perks point.
Perks must be redeemed by the end of the following month.
For example, all perks earned in January can be redeemed from February 1st through the 28th.
Any perks remaining on the last day of February will expire and be unavailable for use.
See below for a breakdown of points earned and the grocery discounts available:
- 300–399 points earned = $3.00
- 400–499 points earned = $4.00
- 500–599 points earned = $5.00
The maximum number of points earned for grocery discounts is 1,000 points or $10.00.
Points can also be used for prescriptions.
One pharmacy prescription is equivalent to 50 perks points.
Although, it is important to remember that prescriptions cannot be purchased using an EBT card.
How Does The Perks Fuel Rewards Program Operate?
Fuel rewards points are earned in the same way as the grocery rewards in that every dollar spent is equivalent to 1 Perks point.
Any perks remaining on the last day of February will expire and be unavailable for use.
See below for a breakdown of points earned and the fuel discounts available:
- 100–199 points earned = 10 cents
- 200–299 points earned = 20 cents
- 300–300 points earned = 30 cents
The maximum amount of points earned for fuel discounts is 1,000 points or $1.00.
Fuel points can be redeemed at Holiday Oil Stations and Market Express.
Click here for a map of locations where points can be redeemed.
gain, EBT users need to remember that while they can use their Perks Fuel points to get a discount on fuel, they cannot use their EBT card to pay for the fuel.
