Known for its chic yet inexpensive furniture and home decor accessories, World Market is an American specialty retail chain. It may not be your first stop for munchies, but the store’s grocery section offers a selection of peculiar and inviting foods imported from across the globe. It features the most eclectic purchases, ranging from confectionery you have never seen before to spices from the four corners of the world.
World Market is spread across 242 diverse locations in the United States, with 58 stores in California. Therefore, it is a fantastic spot for CalFresh recipients to get their hands on some affordable, world-class delicacies.
Does World Market Accept EBT?
Some World Market locations accept EBT payments. To accept EBT food benefits as payment, your local World Market store must be an authorized Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) retailer, which requires USDA approval. Nonetheless, SNAP-authorized World Market stores only accept EBT payments in-store and not for online purchases.
In the United States, around 35% of World Market stores accept EBT, including select locations in California. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) mandates the SNAP program in the country. A World Market store must fulfill one of the conditions listed below to become a USDA-authorized EBT retailer:
- Its stock must contain a sufficient quantity and variety of staple foods.
- It must earn more than 50% of its retail sales from staple foods.
Many World Market locations do not meet the mentioned conditions because they typically stock more housewares than staple foods. Yet, the few stores that do fulfill these conditions qualify to become authorized EBT retailers and allow EBT purchases.
What Can You Buy with Your CalFresh EBT at World Market?
All World Market stores participating in the CalFresh program comply with all restrictions placed by the USDA on what you can buy with your EBT food benefits.
Not all products in a World Market grocery store are CalFresh eligible. It implies you can use your EBT food benefits to buy only the qualifying products at Whole Market and pay with a secondary payment method for the remainder of your order. Thus, it is necessary to understand which food items are covered under your CalFresh benefits.
You can use your EBT card to purchase the following CalFresh qualified items at a nearby World Market store:
- Fruit and vegetables (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- Milk and dairy products such as cheese and yogurt
- Bread and granola bars
- Packed grains such as rice and beans
- Packed and uncooked pasta and noodles
- Meats and seafood
- Cookies and cakes
- Baking mixes and other baking products
- Chocolate and candy
- Packed snacks such as chips, popcorn, nuts, and crackers
- Oils and vinegar
- Sauces and condiments
- Herbs, spices, and seasonings
- Jams and spreads
- Tea, coffee, and cocoa powders
- Drink syrups and mixes
- Fruit juice, soda, and energy drinks
- Bottled water
- Plants and seeds for growing your food
Contact your local county office for a detailed list of CalFresh eligible items.
What Can You Not Buy With Your CalFresh EBT at World Market?
Essentially, the USDA restricts CalFresh recipients from using their EBT food benefits to pay for hot and ready-to-eat food. Additionally, you can only redeem your food benefits on groceries and self-prepared, nutritious food items. These limits are imposed to prevent CalFresh recipients from utilizing their food benefits to splurge on frivolous luxuries.
You can buy a lot of satisfying and nutritious foods with your CalFresh benefits, except for a few select food items that are not CalFresh eligible. Knowing which products are not CalFresh eligible can help you organize your order and prepare a backup payment method if needed.
You can not use your EBT card to purchase the following non-CalFresh eligible items at a nearby World Market store:
- Hot and ready-to-eat foods
- Alcoholic drinks such as beer, wine, and spirits
- Cigarettes and other tobacco products
- Medicines, vitamins, and other dietary supplements
- Pet food
- Toiletries and household supplies
- Furniture
- Pillows, curtains, and rugs
- Home decor accessories
- Lighting accessories such as chandeliers, lamps, and scones
- Mirrors and wall decor
- Kitchen tools and accessories
- Cookware and tableware
- Jewelry and clothing
- Bath and body care products
- Other non-food items
How To Use a CalFresh EBT Card at World Market?
Firstly, you must find a World Market store that accepts EBT cards. You can call your local World Market store to inquire about its status as an authorized EBT retailer or use the CDSS’ EBT Map Finder to locate an EBT-accepting store near you.
Once you visit a CalFrersh authorized World Market store, you can pick out anything from the above list of CalFresh eligible items into your shopping cart. After shopping, head to the checkout and inform your cashier that you will pay with an EBT card. Next, swipe your EBT card at the Point-of-Sale (POS), or the cashier will swipe your card for you. You will need to enter the four-digit EBT PIN to complete your purchase.
It will be a simple process unless your EBT card has an insufficient balance. The simplest method to avoid these scenarios is to maintain the receipt from your most recent transaction, which shows the remaining balance in your EBT account. Alternatively, you can call the toll-free number 1-877-328-9677 (TTY: 1-800-735-2929) to reach EBT Customer Service. It is a free service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in ten languages, including English, Spanish, and Chinese.
What Payment Methods Does World Market Accept?
EBT food benefits are accepted as payment at participating CalFresh World Market stores. However, EBT payments are not accepted for delivery or pickup orders. With the exception of a small number of participating CalFresh locations, most World Market stores do not take EBT in California.
World Market only accepts cash as payment for in-store orders. However, it takes card payments for both in-store and online orders. Some commonly accepted cards include debit cards and credit cards such as American Express, Mastercard, Visa, and Discover. Further, World Market takes various contactless payments for in-store and online orders, including Afterpay, PayPal, and Apple Pay. It also accepts gift card payments for all of your orders.
World Market does not allow CODs, layaway plans, and store credit as payment options for online purchases.
What Other Grocery Stores Take CalFresh EBT in California?
CalFresh is a federal program that has a county-operated system in the state of California. All 58 counties in California participate in the program. Most supermarkets, grocery stores, and other retail outlets across California accept CalFresh EBT benefits.
Apart from World Market, some fast food chains that accept CalFresh EBT in California include:
- Aldi
- Costco
- Albertsons
- Safeway
- Vons
- Kroger
- Target
- Walmart
- Save A Lot
- Food 4 Less
- Stater Bros Market’
- Superior Grocers
- Stop & Shop
- Big Saver Foods
- Foods Co.
It is important to note that not all of the mentioned grocery chains take EBT as payment in all their locations. Their CalFresh participation will differ based on their area and county. You can contact your local county office and ask for a list of participating EBT locations.
In A Nutshell
World Market accepts CalFresh EBT payments only in select locations in the United States. All World Market stores must receive USDA approval to become authorized EBT retailers. World Market accepts EBT food benefits as payment for in-store purchases but not online.
All World Market stores participating in the CalFresh program adhere to all USDA limitations on what you can buy with your EBT food benefits. Except for a few limited food items that are not CalFresh eligible, you can use your CalFresh benefits to purchase a wide variety of enjoyable and nutritious foods.
In addition to World Market, many other grocery chains partake in the CalFresh program in California, for instance, Costco, Aldi, Walmart, and Target. Nevertheless, their participation will differ based on their location and county.
