Farmers share more locally-grown food through Veterans Bucks program

Veterans Bucks are back at the Market at Weirs and Tilton Farmers Market every Saturday through the end of the market season. As of this month, active service members and veterans can show a valid identification to receive a $20 voucher for food at the markets.

“Belknap Area Market Manager Paul Gareau will provide matching value by donating his time performing on-site administrative duties for the Veterans Bucks program at the markets,” said Lisa Morin, program coordinator for Belknap County Conservation District, the organization which oversees the program.

BCCD started the Veterans Bucks program in 2024, receiving funding from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and Franklin Savings Bank, which was extended, to cover the program last year, as well.

This year, the program is funded through the NH Charitable Foundation’s Theresa and Linden Labbe Fund. BCCD received two grants, one for the Market at Weirs for $5,000, and one for the Tilton Farmers Market for $3,600. The grants support veterans' food purchases, and $300 for overhead costs.

In order to qualify for Veterans Bucks, shoppers must be a veteran or active duty military member with a valid military ID or driver license with a veteran emblem. Veterans show their ID to the market manager, and receive a $20 voucher. A spouse can also receive Veterans Bucks if they present their partner's ID at the farmers market.

Vouchers can be spent at any farmer food tents at the market, but are not accepted at food trucks.

“We've talked to people in the past that think it's needs-based, and maybe they wouldn't qualify, but it's open to everyone,” said Paul Gareau, founder of Belknap Area Market Management, and owner of Arándano Farm in Belmont. “It's really just a gratitude program, and all the vendors receive full payouts for the amount of vouchers that they receive. So, they're not losing any money. They're not donating money themselves, which makes it just a really good program for veterans and vendors equally.”

At the end of the market, the market manager will collect vouchers from each tent, and pay vendors the same value, from the grant.

“This is a win-win, as the retired and active-duty military personnel receive assistance, and the farmers' sales are increased at a time when much of the tourist traffic is low, but harvests are at their peak,” Morin said.

“As soon as the farmers market starts up in the spring and early summer, veterans are coming back out to the markets, asking if the program's running already, and when it will be starting up again,” Gareau said.

Typically, the Veterans Bucks program starts toward the end of the summer, in September or October. Due to funding, this year, the program started a bit earlier, on Aug. 8.

“Hopefully, as the word gets out, the utilization will go up. And I hope, every year, we'll be able to support more veterans, and maybe run the program longer through the season, too,” Gareau said.

On “opening day” for Veterans Bucks, Aug. 8, Gareau said they had not fully promoted the program’s return, yet still had 17 veterans use vouchers at the Market at Weirs, and 26 at the Tilton Farmers Market.

Gareau first got the idea for the program at the Barnstead Farmers Market in 2021, where they had a similar offering in place. Gareau saw how excited the vendors were about it, and how proud they were to be a part of a program, benefiting local farmers and veterans.

“What we're really trying to do, because Belknap County has fallen so far behind for local agriculture and local food access, that anything that we can do like this to get people reconnected with local food just goes such a long way,” he said.

“Only 3% of the food New Hampshire consumes is grown here. That leaves New Hampshire very vulnerable to natural and manmade disasters when it comes to our food supply chain. Any program that can help local farmers stay in business is essential to the quality of life and security the rest of us experience,” Morin said.

Gareau said his group is also working with the NH Food Bank to double SNAP benefits at markets. “If somebody comes and puts $30 on their SNAP EBT card, we're going to give them an additional $30 to spend on fruits and vegetables. So, that kind of program, along with the veterans program, again, it's just a win-win.”

The Market at Weirs, at Weirs Community Park, is open 10 am.-1 p.m. on Saturdays, through Oct. 3. 

Tilton Farmers Market, next to the Tilton Police Station, is open 3:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, through Sept. 29.