Contents of this Page:

Introduction

SNAP/EBT at the Farmers’ Market and Market Bucks: How Do They Work?

Credit & Debit Cards at the Farmers’ Market

Find a Participating Farmers' Market

How to get SNAP/EBT set up at a Farmers' Market

How to get Market Bucks set up at a Farmers’ Market

How to Apply for SNAP

Introduction

Farmers' Markets used to be a common source of fresh produce for people using food stamps.  When food stamps changed from paper vouchers or coupons to an electronic, card-based system, most farmers' markets could no longer accept food stamps.  Now, the USDA, state-based agencies, and private entities are working to provide the funding and technical support to help farmers' markets across the country get card reader machines and systems in place to accept EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) cards.  Food stamps -- now called "SNAP" (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) -- are once again being used at farmers' markets. 

The new system is more complex than the old.  Tight record-keeping and verification systems are in place to prevent fraud. Markets typically have one central card reader, and a system of tokens or other "scrip" that customers use to buy products at vendors' booths. Still, experience in Minnesota over the past few years has shown that SNAP at the farmers' market can be a successful program.  An added benefit for farmers' markets is that often, gaining EBT capability means the market can also accept credit and debit cards with a similar token or scrip system.

"Market Bucks" are a dollar matching program offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota to provide extra purchasing power for SNAP customers who shop at farmer' markets. SNAP customers can get up to $5 in matching Market Bucks per farmers' market day.

 SNAP/EBT at the Farmers’ Market and Market Bucks: How Do They Work?

If you have SNAP benefits** and have an EBT card, here’s how Market Bucks work at participating farmers’ markets:

** If you do not have SNAP benefits but think you may qualify, see How to Apply for SNAP.)

1. You go to the central card-reader location at the farmers’ market. There will be a card-reader machine just like in any grocery store or convenience store.

2. You tell the booth operator how many dollars of your SNAP benefits you want to use at the market.  Your card is swiped for that amount and you enter your PIN, just like in a grocery store.

3. The card reader will print two receipts for the transaction: one for you to keep, and one for the market to keep.

4. You receive $1 wooden tokens back for the amount you told the booth operator. 

5. For every $1 wooden token that you get, up to 5, you also get a paper “Market Buck.”  If you have your EBT card swiped for $5, you get 5 wooden tokens each worth $1, and 5 Market Bucks each worth $1.

6. You go spend these tokens and Market Bucks as you choose at participating vendors’ booths.  Participating vendors will have signs up that say “EBT Accepted Here.”

7. You have to spend tokens and Market Bucks on only SNAP-eligible items:  food, and plants that will produce food.

8. You cannot receive change back for purchases made with EBT tokens or Market Bucks. Vendors are not permitted to give change for the tokens or the Market Bucks.  You can give the vendor coins to make exact change, or the vendor can give you extra product to make the amount come out even.

9.The vendors will turn in the tokens that they accept to the market’s EBT  manager, and will get reimbursed by the market for that amount.

More Information about SNAP/EBT + Market Bucks at the Farmers’ Market:

1. You can save your tokens and Market Bucks to spend on a different market day, if you wish. Tokens do not expire. Market Bucks expire in November 2012.

2. You can swipe your EBT card and receive tokens back as many times as you want at the market, but you can only get the matching Market Bucks one time per market day. 

3. You can swipe your EBT card for any amount you choose at the market; it doesn’t have to be $5.  You only get matching Market Bucks on the first $5 from your EBT card.

4. You can get matching Market Bucks one time on every market day – so if your local market is open two days per week, you can swipe your EBT card for $5 and get $5 in matching Market Bucks on each of those two days.

 Credit and Debit Cards at the Farmers’ Market

Some farmers’ market vendors have their own credit and debit card capabilities.  High-volume vendors may have their own card reader.  Some vendors are using the “Square” option on their smartphones to accept credit cards.

Vendors who do not have their own credit and debit card capabilities may be able to accept tokens from a central card-reader system at the farmers’ market.

Most of the Minnesota Farmers’ Markets that accept SNAP/EBT cards on a central card-reader machine can also accept credit or debit cards on the same machine. 

Here’s how that works:

1. You go to the central card-reader booth at the farmers’ market. There will be a card-reader machine just like in any store.

2. You tell the booth operator how many dollars you want to have taken from your card.  The amount you choose must be a multiple of 5.  Your card is swiped for that amount.  If it’s a debit card you will need to enter your PIN.  If it’s a credit card, you will be asked to sign a receipt.

3. The card reader will print two receipts for the transaction: one for you to keep, and one for the market to keep.

4. You receive wooden tokens marked “$5” to match the amount taken from your card.

5. You go spend those tokens just like $5 bills at participating vendors’ booths.  Vendors who have signs out announcing that they accept EBT will usually also accept credit/debit card tokens.

6. You can spend your $5 tokens on anything.

7. You can get change back from the vendor if you are purchasing something that is less than $5.

8. The vendors will turn in the tokens that they accept and get reimbursed from the market for that amount.

Find a Participating Farmers' Market

Not every farmers' market in Minnesota accepts SNAP/EBT. There are more than 120 farmers' markets in Minnesota.

For the 2012 season, there are 30 farmers' markets in the state that are accepting SNAP/EBT. Most, but not all, of those 30 also offer Market Bucks.

Here's a flyer with information about how to use EBT cards at a farmers' market, and a list of markets that accept EBT:
SNAP/EBT Farmers' Markets

The City of Minneapolis has an interactive map of Minneapolis farmers' markets, and a list identifying which ones accept SNAP/EBT:
Minneapolis Farmers' Markets

You can find a more complete list of Minnesota farmers' markets -- including markets that do not yet accept SNAP/EBT -- in the Minnesota Grown Directory.

At some markets that do not accept SNAP/EBT with a central card-reader, you may still find individual vendors who are authorized to accept SNAP.

If you want your local market to start accepting SNAP/EBT, see How to Get SNAP/EBT Set Up at a Farmers' Market.

 How to get SNAP/EBT set up at a Farmers' Market

Any farmer or farmers’ market with eligible products can apply to become a SNAP retailer. The USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), which administers SNAP, has a very good, comprehensive website with information for farmers or farmers' markets who want to accept SNAP:

SNAP at Farmers' Markets
http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/ebt/fm.htm

Resource People for Farmers’ Markets in Minnesota:

Deonna Bouska
dbouska@mfma.org
320-250-5087
Minnesota Farmers' Market Association
www.mfma.org

Ruth White
Ruth.White@state.mn.us
651-201-6494
Minnesota Department of Agriculture

 How to get Market Bucks set up at a Farmers’ Market

The Market Bucks program is sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross), and they are working through the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association to administer Market Bucks at participating farmers’ markets.

Report from Blue Cross on the Market Bucks program in 2011

Contact Deonna Bouska for more information about Market Bucks at Minnesota farmers’ markets:

Deonna Bouska
dbouska@mfma.org
320-250-5087
Minnesota Farmers' Market Association
www.mfma.org

Since Market Bucks is not a government program and is not administered in the same way as SNAP, it may not be available to additional markets in 2012.  Whether it is available in 2013 depends on funding availability and on the success of the program in the 2012 market season.

Farmers’ markets, private entities, or local governments can develop their own, similar program of matching dollars for SNAP/EBT customers at the farmers’ market.  Several cities have done this:

Boston Bounty Bucks
http://thefoodproject.org/bountybucks

Memphis Double Green$
http://memphisfoodpolicy.blogspot.com/2011/08/new-program-double-value-of-food-stamps.html

Kansas City Beans & Greens
http://beansandgreens.org/about/program_highlights.aspx

 How to Apply for SNAP:

10 Steps to Getting SNAP Benefits

Minnesota State Information/Hotline Number: 1-800-657-3698
Call this number to find out where your local SNAP office is.

Minnesota Food Helpline 1-888-711-1151
Call this number for help to connect with a variety of food support and other assistance programs. More information about programs is available on the website:
www.hungersolutions.org/hsm-food-support-enrollment

SNAP Eligibility requirements

SNAP Pre-Screening Tool to help determine if you would qualify for SNAP

Minnesota SNAP Application Form

In this Section:

SNAP/EBT + Market Bucks at Farmers' Markets

Hunger and Food Access

Overview of Food Assistance Programs that can pay farmers

Food-Sharing Options

Education

Supplemental Information

Are organic foods WIC-eligible?

The "Good Samaritan" Act

Models for Farmer-Low Income Consumer Connections

Hunger-Free Minnesota: Executive Summaries of Reports