Can you use SNAP benefits to buy meat?

The short answer is yes, you can use SNAP benefits to buy meat that aligns with your values and standards. Let’s explore how.

Farms and farmers markets

The good news is that farmers markets, farm CSAs, farm stands, and farm stores can accept SNAP benefits. That being said, fifty percent of the 3830 SNAP authorized markets and farmers are clustered in only eleven States: California 423, Massachusetts 313, New York 223, Michigan 201, Washington 136, Iowa 114, Ohio 109, Oregon 106, Virginia 98, Pennsylvania 97, and North Carolina 95. Read on to learn how you can find retail outlets who do accept SNAP in your region.

We’ve spent some time figuring out how many of the butcher shops on our list of whole animal butcher shops accept SNAP benefits—only about 10.5% do. Still, we’ve marked those who are accepting SNAP on our list. (We’ve marked them for you.) View the database.

How to find a Good Meat® provider who accepts SNAP

If you’re looking looking for local meat providers who accept SNAP benefits, the SNAP Retail Locator makes it easy to find nearby farmers, farmer's markets, and other retailers. Just enter your address and set the range you'd like to focus on (you can search 1 to 25 miles from the address you entered). The closest options from your address will show up at the top of the list on the right-hand side of the screen. You can also browse results by exploring the map. While there isn't an option to filter the results specifically for providers, you can scan the list for retailers you know and trust, or ones you’re inspired to vet. You can also locate farmer's markets near you.

Want to inspire more local businesses near you to accept SNAP?

• Here’s more information on getting farmers markets to accept SNAP.
• Here’s more information on getting farm stands, farms stores, and farm CSAs to accept SNAP.
• Here’s more information on getting butcher shops to accept SNAP.
• Are you a farmer or ranchers who wants to accept SNAP? Marketlink can help you.