Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides over 45 million low-income Americans with monthly benefits that can be used to purchase most foods and beverages. Some farmers’ markets prefer that farmers become authorized retailers individually. If the farmers’ market applies to become an authorized retailer, the device is useable by all participating farmers. already EBT accessible. A farmers market is authorized by the USDA Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) to accept the Illinois Link card. Site visits are not normally scheduled in advance. Each year program participants spend roughly $70 billion in SNAP benefits, including more than $22.4 million at farmers markets in 2017. Apply for a Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) number from the USDA to become a SNAP-authorized retailer. supermarkets. Appendix I contains tips for farmers’ markets on how to respond to some of the specific questions on the SNAP retailer application that may be particularly confusing from a farmers’ market perspective. Some of the questions do not easily apply to a farmers’ market situation. 1-year free use of the TotilPay Go point-of-sale App for processing payments. The market uses an alternative redemption method for Link sales. Manual Vouchers: When retailers, farmers, or farmers’ markets offer SNAP EBT, sometimes the point of sale operator has challenges accessing SNAP benefit balance and finalizing transactions — this could be due to a user error, or a system outage from the state’s contracted processing company. Read more » Becoming an Authorized Retailer. (These reauthorization site visits have long been a requirement for SNAP retailers, but were waived for farmers markets until 2018.) Each WIC coupon is worth $4.00 and a SFMNP coupon is worth $6.00. Use your FMNP coupons to buy fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs from farmers who display the "Farmers Market Nutrition Program" sign. Explore whether your market is eligible to accept SNAP benefits, the SNAP-authorization application process, and reauthorization requirements. No “per-transaction” processing fees for SNAP/EBT The Point of Sale (POS) terminal is deployed to the market. Depending on the market, a SNAP electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card can be used like a debit card with individual vendors. Read more » Your market will need certain documentation in order to complete the application. If a farmer is authorized for his/her own farm stand, that farmer can also accept paper vouchers at a farmers’ market. Farmers market organizations recommend that the board have a written policy explaining SNAP retailer responsibilities and detailing a process for selecting the responsible official. If you have any questions about selecting and preparing fresh produce, please ask the farmers. At more than 100 participating farmers markets and farm stands, customers who use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/EBT benefits can stretch their food budget to buy more fruits and vegetables! The policy should also include that the board reviews its SNAP retailer responsibilities annually and confirms that their information on file with FNS is current. Free Bluetooth SNAP/EBT card reader to use with any smart device. Upon arrival at the market, the site visit contractors identify themselves to the market … While SNAP … First, a market must choose whether it will accept SNAP payments on behalf of vendors and/or rely on vendors to become SNAP authorized. At other markets, SNAP users go to the market’s information booth and request that the card be processed for a certain amount. Review the detailed list of necessary documents below and then click here to learn more and view the application. The MarketLink suite of services for qualifying farmers and farmers markets includes: One-on-one assistance with the USDA SNAP Retailer Application. Look for the SNAP Market Match currency, logo, and vendor signs at local farmers markets! SNAP benefits are simple to use. SNAP Market Match. Difference between Farmer's Markets and Other SNAP Retailers. SNAP Gardens Farmers Market and Retailer Poster Request If you would like posters to promote the purchase of food-producing plants with SNAP EBT benefits at farmers markets or other SNAP retail locations, please fill out this form.