Montgomery, AL – On Thursday, March 27, 2014, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service will join Alabama’s Department of Agriculture & Industries and Alabama’s Department of Human Resources to host a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Vendor Sign-up Day at the Richard Beard Building Auditorium for direct marketing farmers and farmers’ markets to get authorized to accept SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps) benefits.
State and Federal Agriculture departments are working together to increase SNAP recipients’ access to farmers’ fresh products and farmers’ markets. Free wireless Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) equipment to qualified farmers and farmers markets through MarketLinkTM to help farmers and farmers markets get SNAP authorized, and additional support for incentive programs to encourage SNAP customers to shop at farms and farmers’ markets, help create a win-win-win situation for farmers, customers, and local economies
WHEN: Thursday, March 27, 2014
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CDT
WHAT: Direct Marketing Farmers and Farmers’ Markets will get authorized to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and see if they qualify for free wireless point-of-sale equipment. Media are encouraged to attend the event; interviews are available with USDA officials, State agricultural officials, and local farmers.
WHY: Today, of the nearly 8,000 farmers’ markets in the United States, less than half accept SNAP payments. At the same time, SNAP recipients, especially in urban areas, are unaware that their SNAP EBT cards can be used to purchase fresh products directly from farmers. Media coverage will help grow business for local farmers and inform low-income households that there is an opportunity to use SNAP benefits to purchase fresh foods.
WHERE: Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries
Richard Beard Building Auditorium
1445 Federal Drive,
Montgomery, AL 36107
(334) 240-7249