A great new program called Market Bucks is out there to help people eat healthier and stretch their grocery shopping budget at Farmer’s Markets.

The colorful Midtown Farmers Market in south Minneapolis is at it again, this time as one of a few markets nationwide encouraging EBT users to eat well by offering an incentive. For the first $5 an EBT user spends at the market on anything from beets to broccoli to bok choy, he or she will get an additional $5 in Market Bucks. In other words, $10 in produce for the first $5 spent.

Unlike a grocery store, where the best bargains usually are found in the junk food aisle, $10 can buy a bag of healthy market produce. This past Tuesday, vendors offered carrots for $1 a bunch, trays of taters for $3, robust broccoli stalks for $3, and onions, herbs and huge heads of lettuce for $2 each.

The challenge is to get the word out.

For information about the Midtown Farmers Market and more on this great program click here