In a dramatic eleventh-hour decision, two federal judges ruled Friday that the Trump administration must continue funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), averting a nationwide benefits cutoff that was scheduled for Nov. 1.
The rulings pushed back against the administration's plan to halt the 61-year-old program for the first time in its history, which would have impacted nearly one-in-six Oregonians. While the court order is a significant victory, a critical gap remains. Officials warn it could still take one to two weeks for federal funds to be reloaded onto the EBT cards used by 41 million Americans, nearly two-thirds of whom are in families with children.
The Oregon Farmers Market Fund is stepping up to ensure no one who relies on Double Up Food Bucks will be turned away this November, despite a potential lapse in federal funding. (Bryan M. Vance/Stumptown Savings)
For thousands of Portland-area families, that delay means the immediate crisis is not over.
Anticipating this gap, the Farmers Market Fund has launched an emergency program to guarantee that shoppers can continue to access fresh, local food through the Double Up Food Bucks program. The fund is now positioned as a crucial bridge, ensuring families don't have to wait for the federal system to catch up.
Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) is a vital nutrition incentive that typically matches SNAP benefits dollar-for-dollar, up to $20, at participating farmers markets. The threat of a benefits freeze prompted swift action from local organizers.
“We had been planning, coming up with contingency plans and alternative funding in case our federal funding disappears,” said AR Kittleson Springer, the Data and SNAP Technical Assistance Coordinator for the Farmers Market Fund. “But this was definitely a surprise.”
The organization received special permission from the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) to alter its matching rules. Now, as long as a shopper has at least $1 on their Oregon Trail Card, they can receive a full $20 match.
For shoppers whose balance has already hit zero, the Farmers Market Fund is stepping in with its own reserves. Market staff will try to run a shopper's card for $1. If the transaction is declined, the shopper will still receive the full $20 in Double Up Food Bucks, paid for by the Fund's emergency reserves.
This proactive measure provides immediate stability. Shoppers can get fresh produce today, and local farmers can count on the income from market sales while the federal logistics of restoring SNAP are resolved.
The emergency program is active now at all farmers markets that offered DUFB this year and will continue until November SNAP benefits are fully distributed.
How You Can Help
With the community facing a one-to-two-week gap before federal aid arrives, support for the Farmers Market Fund is more critical than ever.
Donate: Contributions to the Farmers Market Fund go directly to sustaining this emergency program. Any surplus funds will be used for future emergency programming or to reimburse individual markets.
Spread the Word: Share information about this program so every community member knows they can still access their DUFB benefits.
Advocate: For those not financially impacted, Springer suggests contacting legislators to emphasize the importance of ending the shutdown and ensuring continued SNAP funding.
Connect Locally: Springer also encourages shoppers to talk with their local market managers. "Local markets are going to know more specifically what their farmers need and what their shoppers need."
Find a Participating Farmers Market
All Oregon farmers markets who participate in Double Up Food Bucks are covered by this emergency funding. Double Up Food Bucks Oregon has an interactive map showing all farmers markets statewide who participate in DUFB.
We’ve also produced a guide to all the Portland-area farmers markets. Many of them participate in DUFB and are open through the fall and winter.
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