EBT service at Blaisdell market

Honolulu Farmers’ Market, held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays on the grounds of Blaisdell Concert Hall, is accepting EBT cards for fresh, local produce purchases. (The market is currently set up in Blaisdell’s side parking lot due to the center’s holiday schedule.)

Here’s how it works: Customers using EBT cards (commonly referred to as "food stamps") will swipe them in exchange for GreenBucks scrip that can be spent at the market.

The GreenWheel Food Hub, a social enterprise that helps low-income communities gain access to fresh, locally grown food, will set up EBT service over the next year in four other Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation farmers markets; the Blaisdell market kicks off the effort.

Gida Snyder, manager of the markets’ EBT service and cofounder of GreenWheel, said the Blaisdell evening market was selected for service first because it is conveniently located along major bus lines.

Whole Foods Market provided funding to initiate the service. Funding to bring it to all five markets came from the Hawaii Community Foundation’s Island Innovation Fund.