Do Sprouts Take EBT Cards, Snap Or Food Stamps – Sprouts Farmers Market is a renowned grocery store chain in America that is known for selling healthy and fresh products. Individuals who are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program often wonder whether they can use their EBT card at Sprouts to shop for eligible products. Cardholders would be pleased to note that this American supermarket chain happily accepts an assortment of payment methods including EBT payment, cash, check and debit cards.
If you are an EBT card holder then there is a good chance that you can use your EBT benefits for the purchase of organic and natural goods at Sprouts. The company is accepting EBT card payments in all of its store locations but it does not accept WIC. In this guide, we will help you to know more about Sprout’s policy about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and what are the eligible products that you can shop for using your EBT Benefits.
Highlights of this Post
Key Takeaways
- Sprouts accepts EBT cards for in-store purchases of approved food items.
- SNAP recipients can buy fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, bread, cereals, and seeds/plants for growing food.
- EBT cannot be used for prepared foods, alcohol, pet food, hygiene products, or non-food items.
- Sprouts does not accept EBT online.
What Is Sprouts?
Sprouts Farmers Market is a popular supermarket chain that is headquartered in Phoenix AZ and operates 340+ stores in 23 U.S. states. The grocer offers a wide array of organic and natural foods including bulk foods or fresh produce, vitamins, supplements, meat, seafood, packaged groceries, dairy products, daily baked goods, natural body care, frozen foods, household items and so on.
The company is known for offering an extensive collection of products that are free of artificial flavors or preservatives, colors and synthetic ingredients and are also minimally processed food. Sprouts Farmers Market sees itself as the “very best part of a real farmer market” under one roof and remains open every day of the week. Founded in 2002 this American supermarket chain is one of the newest market chains that has expanded in the following states:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
Can I Use My EBT Card At Sprouts?
Yes, EBT or food stamps is accepted as a method of payment at Sprouts Farmers Market. EBT cardholders would be pleased to note that they can use their food stamps to buy eligible food items at any Sprouts location and this comprises fresh fruits, vegetables from dairy products, poultry, meat, bread, cereals and so on.
However, it is important to note that you can use the EBT card benefits for in-store grocery purchases at Sprouts. The market is not accepting online orders using Electronic Benefits Transfer cards. Besides Sprouts there are many stores nationwide that accept EBT as an online method payment for instance Walmart, Target, Amazon Mart and so on.
What Can You Purchase With Your EBT Card At Sprouts?
Sprouts Farmers Market is known to provide a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, snacks, super-quality bread and other grocery items. SNAP recipients would be pleased to note that they can purchase surprising things with their food stamp benefits. However, you can purchase only eligible items being a SNAP recipient so you must look for EBT SNAP labels on the products before buying.
Let’s take a look at the following items that you can purchase with your food stamp benefits at Sprouts.
- Fruits and vegetables: All types of fresh, canned or frozen fruits and vegetables are allowed for EBT purchase.
- Milk and Dairy Products: All types of milk, yogurt, cheese and butter are eligible
- Meat, poultry and fish: This comprises all forms of meat such as pork, beef, turkey, chicken, fish and lamb
- Bread and cereals: All types of bread, crackers, cereals, pasta, oatmeal and rice are allowed
- Snacks and desserts: Chips, cakes, cookies and other snack items are eligible as long as they do not have any vitamins or minerals in them.
- Baking ingredients: This includes flour, sugar eggs flavoring etc.
- Staple cooking ingredients: This includes herbs, seasoning and spices.
- Energy drinks: Specific energy drinks are allowed for purchase using an EBT card if they are labeled as Nutrition Facts.
- Seeds and Plants: SNAP participants can purchase plants and seeds to grow their produce.
What Can’t You Purchase With Your EBT Card At Sprouts?
As per the USDA SNAP rules, EBT credits can apply only for eligible food items and groceries and the transaction will not push if you purchase any unapproved items. The restrictions are in place to make sure government SNAP funds are used for human consumption. You can contact your local SNAP agency in your state to learn how the EBT program works and when your card will be reloaded with credits.
The following is the list of items that you cannot purchase at Sprouts or any other grocery store using your EBT card:
- Hot Prepared Food: This includes food items that are ready for immediate consumption such as hot prepared meals and food from restaurants. However only a few EBT-friendly restaurants accept SNAP benefits in select locations.
- Alcohol and Tobacco: EBT funds cannot be used to buy alcoholic beverages like wine, liquor, beer, cigarettes and any other tobacco products
- Health and Beauty: This includes cosmetics, medications, vitamins, hygiene products and supplements.
- Household Supplies: This includes non-food items like paper goods and cleaning products
- Pet Supplies: This includes pet food, bedding and toys
- Live animals (except fish and shellfish).
Making any unapproved SNAP purchase at Sprouts or any other grocery store using your EBT card may result in your SNAP benefits termination. You also have to face severe consequences like a 3-month ban for the first SNAP unapproved purchase, a year ban for the second unapproved purchase and a two-year ban for the third unapproved SNAP purchase.
How To Use Your EBT Card At Sprouts?
Using your EBT card or food stamps at Sprouts is a simple and pretty straightforward process. You need not separate the EBT-eligible items from your non-grocery SNAP- ineligible items. You just need to use your EBT card for the eligible products and then choose the remaining products with your debit card, credit card or cash. Here are the steps that you need to follow carefully.
- Check whether your local Sprouts location is accepting EBT as a method of payment. You can contact the store directly or visit the Sprouts Farmers Market official website to know more details.
- Visit the local Sprouts store and select SNAP-eligible food items that have been mentioned in the above section of the article. For any in-eligible product, you can use an alternate source of payment.
- When you’re ready to pay, inform the cashier at Sprouts that you will be using your EBT card or food stamps.
- Swipe your EBT card in the card reader or just hand it to the store manager or cashier. You will be prompted to enter your 4-digit secret PIN that will authorize your EBT transaction.
- Once your transaction gets approved you will get a receipt that will show the remaining SNAP EBT balance.
Nevertheless, some of the items that you purchased from Sprouts may not be SNAP eligible so you need to use an alternate source of payment. You can use checks, debit card, credit card or cash to pay for the remaining items. No matter which payment method you choose you can rest assured your EBT card will be accepted as a payment method in-store if you are shopping for eligible goods.
Do Sprouts Accept WIC?
WIC stands for Women, Infants and Children Program that offers food benefits to expectant mothers of infants and children below 5 years of age. Unfortunately, Sprouts does not accept WIC vouchers since it is not an approved WIC-retailer.
As per the official website, Sprouts accept EBT or SNAP benefits along with other payment methods but they do not accept WIC, traveler’s checks or money orders currently. If you’re eligible for WIC benefits then you cannot use them at Sprout stores however various general stores are WIC-approved so you must contact your local WIC agency to know more.
Do you know whether ARCO gas stations accept food stamps or not? Read them in our next guide.
What Other Kinds of Payments Do Sprouts Take?
It is important to check out a handful of payment methods accepted at Sprouts before visiting a local store. Following is the list of payment methods that Sprouts accepts at all store locations
- Cash
- Sprouts gift cards
- Visa
- Discover
- American Express
- Mastercard
EBT payments can be made with the help of Samsung Pay, Apple Pay and Android Pay. The company also accepts EBT at all of its store locations however those who are enrolled in the Special Nutrition for Women, Infants and Children Program may not be able to use their WIC vouchers here. They are also not accepting traveler’s checks or money orders as a method of payment.
Sprouts Return Policy
The type of credit given is determined by the payment method used. A photo ID is required for all returns without a receipt. Here is the return policy for the following payment methods
- Credit or EBT: A refund will be made to your debit card or credit card upon providing the receipt and original card
- Cash, Debit or Electronic Checks: Return will be made in cash if your payment has been done using a debit card, electronic check or cash. The receipt reflecting the form of payment as a debit card, electronic check or cash is required.
- Check kept for deposit (manual check), Gift Card or no receipt: A gift card is issued if you have no receipt to show.
You can also read about whether the popular warehouse company Costco accepts EBT or not in our next guide.
Why Should You Shop At Sprouts With Your EBT Benefits?
Sprouts Farmers Market is a popular choice among customers who are looking to purchase healthy and fresh food options. Here are the popular reasons why you must shop at Sprouts with your EBT benefits.
Affordable Prices
Sprouts Farmers Market provides competitive products that makes it a popular and affordable option for individuals who want to eat healthy without breaking the bank. You can find a wide range of SNAP-eligible foods here that you can cover with your EBT benefits.
High-Quality Products
Another popular reason for shopping with EBT benefits at Sprouts is getting high-quality products. Sprouts Farmers Market is committed to selling high-quality products. You can find a wide array of products that are free from artificial colors, flavors and preservatives
Community Focused
The retailer is a popular option among customers for its commitment to the communities it serves. They have partnered with local suppliers and farmers to provide fresh, locally sourced products to all its customers. Moreover, the company donates unsold food to charities and local food banks as well.
Wide Variety of Options
Sprouts put special emphasis on selling fresh produce and healthy food options. This is the reason why customers get plenty of options to choose from. No matter whether you are looking for speciality items or organic products you can find everything that will suit your needs and preferences.
Sustainable Practices
Sprouts Farmers Market is dedicated to promoting sustainable practices and reducing its environmental impact. It uses eco-friendly packaging and aims to reduce food waste through its special program known as zero waste.
Farmers markets are open every day between 7:00 AM and 10:00 PM apart from holidays. Moreover, New Year’s Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Thanksgiving have reduced working hours at Sprouts Farmers Market. Further, Sprouts remain completely closed during Christmas and Easter.
Do Sprouts Accept EBT Online?
No Sprouts does not accept EBT online as a method of payment and EBT cardholders can use EBT benefits for in-store purchases only. However, various major retailers are accepting EBT online for the purchase of groceries to provide more convenience to EBT cardholders.
Alternate Retailers That Accept EBT Payments Online
Let’s take a look at the following grocery stores or retailers that accept EBT online.
Amazon
EBT benefits are accepted by Amazon on Amazon Grocery and Amazon Fresh purchases. Amazon provides Electronic Benefits Transfer recipients an amazing opportunity to purchase eligible items on their online platform.
With endless product selections on Amazon, it can sometimes be difficult to know what is EBT eligible and not.
Customers often get free shipping if they can meet the minimum order requirements set by Amazon.
Instacart
With the latest version of the Instacart online you can see local grocery stores that accept EBT SNAP cards. Instacart appoints staff to shop for groceries and food items for you and deliver the ordered items to your doorstep.
Instacart aims to expand the number of states and retailers accepting online EBT payments through its platform. You can check your Instacart account from time to time to get a list of more retailers and states from where you can purchase groceries using your EBT card.
Target
Target is accepting EBT as a method of payment from 2022. EBT recipients can use the Target order pickup option as well to order groceries. Target provides the added flexibility and convenience to customers to choose their desired grocery and food items online.
Walmart
Walmart accepts SNAP Benefits or EBT cards as a method of payment at all its store locations throughout the country that sell groceries and food. Walmart is another big online platform that has been accepting EBT since 2020 just a year after Amazon.
You can order grocery items and pay using your EBT card. EBT cards are accepted by Walmart stores online. SNAP recipients can use their EBT card to purchase groceries online for pickup or delivery at their doorstep
ALDI
ALDI accepts EBT or SNAP benefits cards at authorized locations. ALDI is not only popular for its affordable prices on household items and groceries but has also gained recognition for its commitment to providing healthy food options to its in-store brand products. ALDI’s stores accept EBT in addition to major credit and debit cards as well as Google Pay and Apple Pay.
DoorDash
DoorDash is one of the latest and most popular app-based delivery services that enable people to purchase food and get it delivered to their doorstep. They are available across the 50 United States and even accept EBT cards as a method of payment. So if you are a SNAP beneficiary you can use your EBT card to order food items and groceries from DoorDash.
A few more retailers that are accepting EBT in America are as follows:
- 7-Eleven
- A&J Market
- Tops Friendly Markets
- Hometown Foods
- Kroger
- Publix
- Albertsons
- ShopRite
- Stop & Shop
- Hy-Vee
- H-E-B
- Smaller Chains
- Jubilee Foods
- City Market
- Piggly Wiggly
- Dollar Stores
- All Stores
- Kroger
- Walgreen
- Sam’s Club
- Family Food Stores
- WinCo
- Speedway etc.
- Big Y Foods
- BJ’s Wholesale Club
- Friendly Foods
- Harris Teeter
- Foodland
- Market Basket
- Stater Bros
- Town & Country Market
- Warehouse Market
- Whole Foods
- Weis Markets
- Wright’s Market
- Rite Aid etc.
Get a comprehensive list of SNAP-eligible goods and grocery stores that accept EBT payments online in our next guide.
Conclusion
Sprouts Farmers Market is quickly becoming one of the leading grocery store chains in America. Before visiting a local Sprouts store, it is important to learn about the different payment methods accepted by the company. It is also crucial to know that you cannot use your EBT card to pay for everything available at Sprouts. SNAP recipients can use their EBT card to pay for an assortment of food products including bread, cereals, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat, seeds, plants to grow food and so on. EBT benefits do not include prepared food items, pet food, alcohol, personal hygiene products, vitamins and so on. Remember that the SNAP rules and guidelines may vary from one place to another so you must check with your state laws before leaving home.
We hope this article has been informative enough to give you all the details you need regarding Sprouts and EBT. You can learn more about the government grants and financial assistance program at the Get Government Grants’ blog section today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Sprouts Stores Take EBT or Food Stamp Benefits?
Sprout takes EBT or food stamp benefits in all of its store locations throughout the United States of America. However, SNAP recipients can use their EBT card for the purchase of eligible items only. You can use the EBT at any offline Sprouts store since they do not accept food stamps as a payment method online.
Can I Get Cash Back At Sprouts?
Sprouts accept coupons and take them at face value. It also accepts mobile and digital coupons. They accept coupons that exceed the item’s value however they do not provide any cashback offer.
Do Sprouts Take Food Stamps In California?
Yes, Sprouts customers in California can pay for their orders with a valid EBT card. It is important to note that Sprouts does not accept quick cash for online orders. To successfully use your food stamp benefits card a debit or credit card must also be linked to your Sprouts account to cover fees, bottle deposits in some states, delivery tips, tax and other non-EBT items that you want to purchase.
What Day Is Best To Shop At Sprouts?
Wednesday is the best day to shop at Sprouts Farmers Market as the supermarket chain runs a unique sale cycle with weekly discounts on Wednesdays that make it a prime time for bargain hunting. You can get weekly discounts and exclusive monthly specials from Sprouts Farmers Market.