USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service will join Florida State Agencies for Agriculture and MarketLink to host Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP Merchant Sign-up Days next week.
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ATLANTA, Sep. 4, 2015 – USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service will join Florida State Agencies for Agriculture and MarketLinkTM to host a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Merchant Sign-up Day. American consumers are enjoying increasingly more opportunities to buy food directly from their local farmers and State and Federal Agriculture departments are working together to increase SNAP recipients’ access to farmers’ fresh products.
“Farmers are instrumental in providing fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods throughout the State,” said Erin Swanson-Hall, Southeast Deputy Regional Administrator for USDA Food and Nutrition Service. “We are striving to expand access to healthy food to those participating in SNAP.” Swanson-Hall encourages direct marketing farmers and farmer’s markets who are not currently participating in the SNAP Program to attend this special sign-up event.
USDA SNAP is organizing two sign-up events in northwest Florida and two sign-ups in Central Florida to provide a one-stop-shop to help direct marketing farmers get authorized and receive additional support for incentive programs to encourage SNAP customers to shop at farms and farmers’ markets. SNAP benefits that are accepted by authorized markets help create a win/win situation for farmers, customers, and local economies. Grants are available for free wireless Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) equipment. USDA Food and Nutrition Service works to improve childhood nutrition and empower families to make healthier food choices by expanding the availability of healthy food and offering tools to help in the process. This effort is supported when farmers and farmers’ markets accept SNAP.
Florida SNAP authorized farmers and farmers’ markets can also participate in the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) to provide fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits and vegetables to Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) participants, and the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) to provide low-income seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for eligible foods (fruits, vegetables, honey, and fresh-cut herbs) at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture programs. Go to www.fns.usda.gov/programs-and-services for more information.
Last year, Floridians SNAP recipients spent an average of $238 in benefits each month. The ability to accept SNAP benefits helps farmers expand their customer base and economically support their local community. With more direct farmers and farmers’ markets able to accept SNAP benefits, more households can have access to fresh, healthy and nutritious fruits and vegetables. Currently in Florida, there are 72 direct marketing farmers and 78 farmers markets authorized to accept SNAP statewide. Farmers who are interested in becoming an authorized SNAP Retailer should bring the following items to the sign-up event:
1. Picture ID (driver’s license or passport)
2. Social Security Card (or other official document with your name and SSN)
3. Copy of voided check for bank account you will use to deposit funds.
Monday, September 14, 2015 | 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Jackson County Extension Services
2741 Pennsylvania Ave #3
Marianna, FL
Tuesday, September 15, 2015 | 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Leon County Extension Services
615 Paul Russell Rd
Tallahassee, FL
Wednesday, September 16, 2015 | 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Fruitville Public Library
100 Coburn Rd
Sarasota, FL
Thursday, September 17, 2015 | 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Seminole County Extension Office
250 West County Home Road
Sanford, FL
Farmers can also apply online to accept SNAP benefits at retail food stores or Farmers’ Markets. Go to http://www.fns.usda.gov/ebt/learn-about-snap-benefits-farmers-markets for more information.