Setting up a SNAPEBT Program for Directmarketing Farmers

Setting up a SNAP/EBT Program for Direct-marketing Farmers (produce stands, farm stores, CSAs) Xanna Prentice, SNAP Technical Support Fresh Access Bucks

Meats, fish and poultry SNAP-eligible items Dairy products Breads and cereals Fruits and vegetables Seeds and plants which produce food

Are you a Direct-marketing farmer? Farmer-producers that sell their own agricultural products directly to the general public. Includes fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, and grains.

● ● Financial ● Although you may already accept credit and debit cards, there is still possible cost involved with accepting SNAP ● ● Staff training ○ Rules of SNAP purchases ○ How to run EBT cards Management of program (1 -3 hrs/wk) ○ Accounting ○ Promotion ○ Nutrition education Equipment and a merchant services contract ○ Sometimes EBT capabilities can be added to an existing credit/debit card system Business bank account (variable) Equipment and a merchant services contract ○ approx. $1200 in initial costs unless using wired equipment ○ The USDA Food & Nutrition Service has a FREE EQUIPMENT program which offers an EBT machine to new farmers www. mysnapebtequipment. com

Responsible Official Must ensure that all stakeholders adhere to SNAP laws, regulations, and policies. If any stake-holder commits a program violation, both the farm and the Responsible Officialwill be held accountable, and may face disqualification and/or monetary penalties.

SNAP Authorization Online Application: www. fns. usda. gov/snap/retailer-apply 1. First, set up an e. Authentication email address and password so that you can log in to the application. They will send you a confirmation email, then you must go back to the original page and scroll down to Step 3: Complete the Online Application 2. Log in. When it asks Store or Farmer’s Market, choose Store. In the Basic Information section, at the bottom under “Store Type, ” you will select “Direct Marketing Farmer” 3. Next are questions about ownership type: Government-owned, Partnership, LLC, Publicly owned Corporation, Privately-held Corporation, or Sole Proprietorship (most likely choice). You will need to have information gathered - EIN, SS number, or letters describing ownership, depending on the type. 4. Following this will be questions about sales, inventory, and other supplemental information. 5. Any additional documentation required will need to be provided once application is submitted: Certification & Signature statement, Social Security card copies, letters detailing IRS determination or government ownership, and/or a business license, if one is available 6. Following submission, you will be assigned an FNS number

EBT Equipment & Merchant Services Once you receive SNAP Authorization and are assigned an FNS number from the USDA, you can apply for equipment to process transactions. There a number of different providers and plans which support EBT transactions and also Credit/Debit card transactions ● USDA FNS Equipment Program (free) **new farmstands only** ○ www. mysnapebtequipment. com ○ application@mysnapebtequipment. com ● Third Party Provider (farm/business pays) ○ Merchant Source - www. merchantsource. com ■ Kim Lyons, (800) 313 -5198 ○ Payment Spring- www. paymentspring. com , ■ Jason Butts, (402) 513 -4573 ● Wired (Phone Jack, Ethernet required) ● FISglobal - www. ebtedge. com ○ free wired equipment, free processing ○ Mark Nelson, 414 -577 -9220 ● go. EBT - www. go. EBT. com ○ free wired equipment, charges for processing ○ Tammy, (678) 581 -8343

Implementing your program A successful program requires a strong SNAP-customer base, so be prepared to: ● ● Reach out to rural and under-served communities Promote your farm’s SNAP program through social media, radio, newspaper, television, or public transit advertisements Provide nutrition education and information to SNAP customers Consider offering a CSA share to SNAP customers (if you don’t already do so!), as this is a great way for people to spend their SNAP dollars and receive a variety of foods to eat from your farm

FAB ❖ Once your SNAP program is up and running, consider applying for Feeding Florida’s Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) program ➢ Incentive program which increases the purchasing power of SNAP by doubling the tokens customers receive to spend at your farm on fruits and vegetables ➢ Funds available for your farm to run this program and expand to increase those served ➢ Currently 50 FAB market partners in Florida ❖ Application & more information located at www. freshaccessbucks. com