So Your Market Wants to Accept SNAP Benefits? Getting started in accepting SNAP benefits

So Your Market Wants to Accept SNAP Benefits? Getting started in accepting SNAP benefits

History of SNAP and Farmers The original 1939 Food Stamp Plan was to help two groups of persons in America: Low income families needing a more healthy diet Farmers who had surplus products For every $1.50 in orange food stamps used a person would receive an additional $.50 in blue stamps. These blue stamps could only be used to purchase surplus agricultural products and only those designated by the USDA secretary

History continued The idea was to help farmers increase their income and to help those who could least afford it, to maintain a healthy diet. Eleanor Roosevelt stated in 1941, of the use of the blue surplus stamps, This is an important step in long range national defense. Throughout the year, fresh vegetables were put on the list and canned or frozen were excluded. The stamps gave way to commodities.

History continued President Kennedy issued his first executive order in 1961 stating the commodities distribution system was limited and nutritionally inadequate. Commodities changed to the funny money but again, purchases were limited to eligible foods that excluded soft drinks, frozen foods, and luxury foods. The Food Stamp Act of 1964 removed these items from the excluded list and the purchasing of fruits and vegetables declined.

Advent of the EBT Card With the advent of the EBT card, fraud declined but so did the use of SNAP benefits at farmers markets. In 2001 a new program was started called Senior Nutrition Farmers Market Program (SNFMP) to encourage our seniors to eat more nutritious meals. In 2010, farmers markets were permitted to accept EBT payments and there has been a steady increase in SNAP usage at farmers markets.

Where do I start? The first thing a farmers market needs to do in order to begin accepting SNAP benefits is to get their FNS number. FNS (Food and Nutrition Services) is the division of the USDA that manages the SNAP program. DHS (Oklahoma Department of Human Services) has a guide to help the farmers market get their FNS number.

Getting Your FNS Number There are two ways to apply for your FNS number: Call FNS at 1-877-823-4369 and request a paper application or, Go online at http://www.fns.usda.gov/ebt/learnabout-snap-benefits-farmers-markets-application and complete the application online.

This is where the DHS guide comes in handy The guide has step-by-step instructions that follows the application questions with helpful hints on answers. The guide gives additional information that will be needed to complete the application process.

Now is a good time to mention the token system Many of the farmers markets that accept SNAP benefits use the token system. Unless each vendor will be purchasing and using their own EBT or third party machine, it is advisable to use the token system. Tokens must have the market s name on one side (logo is optional) and the denomination amount on the other side. Using the token system allows the market manager to know which vendors are getting SNAP clients and which are not and also to make the managing of the SNAP system easier.

We got our FNS number, now what? It s time to decide what kind of EBT machine you will need. DHS will provide an EBT-only machine that plugs into a phone line and an electrical outlet. I don t have a phone line at my market. DHS can also provide a wireless EBT machine. There is also the option of using a smartphone with a sling to make the SNAP purchases. Contact Tom Pennington at (405) 522-1262 or at Thomas.Pennington@okdhs.org to get more information.

What Can be Bought with SNAP? Dairy products Meat, fish, and poultry Fruits and Vegetables Herbs, Spices, and nuts Breads and Bakery products Food producing Plants and Seeds

Do s and Don ts for Vendors o Do help the client in what can and what cannot be purchased with their tokens at your booth. o Do remember that FNS sends secret shoppers into markets to make sure vendors are following the rules. o Do explain to clients the ways items in your booth can be prepared, stored, etc.

Do s and Don ts o Don t make change for tokens or trade tokens with another vendor. o Don t charge sales tax. o Don t sell unpackaged ready-to-eat items, hot food, or non-food items to SNAP customers. o Don t forget that you are helping a family to eat more nutritiously.

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