Information about Accepting SNAP Benefits at your Farmers Market

What is SNAP?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, helps people who meet certain income requirements buy enough food each month. These benefits can be redeemed at large retail grocers as well as SNAP-accepting farmers markets and direct marketing farms/farm stands.

 

Need more help navigating EBT?
Contact Diana Prieto Marquez at diana-prietomarquez@ouhsc.edu

 

Glossary

SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Formerly known as the Food Stamp Program. Monthly benefits are uploaded onto participants EBT cards to buy food.

EBT: Electronic Benefits System - This refers to the card that SNAP benefits are uploaded to. It looks just like a credit or debit card but can only be processed on certain machines.

USDA: United States Department of Agriculture - Federal agency regulating farming, forestry, and food.

FNS: Food and Nutrition Service - Oversees the USDA’s nutrition assistance programs, including SNAP.

Tokens: This refers to the tokens (often wood) used at SNAP accepting farmers markets that participants spend with their eligible vendor of choice.

 

Why Accept SNAP?

SNAP - 

  • Provides community with access to fresh, locally-grown foods.
  • Increases customer market base.
  • Increases produces sales through matching programs such as Double Up Oklahoma (DUO)
  • Instantly eligible to accept Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) benefits upon approval. 
  • Eligible to accept DUO after 1 year of operation accepting SNAP.
  • Increases income for vendors selling both eligible & ineligible products through overall increased customer traffic & increased cash saved for other products.

 

SNAP Facts

Step 1: Gather Information

Required information:

    • Names of the store owner(s) – name of representative of the market.
    • Home addresses of the store owner(s) – address of the market.
    • Social security number(s) of the store owner(s) or the representative of the market.
    • Sales data for the store.

If you are representing an entire farmers market, not a single vendor, you will need your Employer Identification Number (EIN) to apply and register your market to accept SNAP. Your EIN is the nine-digit number assigned to your business by the IRS for tax purposes. If you do not have an EIN number, you must obtain one before applying. CLICK HERE to create your account on USDA.gov and obtain your EIN.

Other required information:

    • Store opening date: This is the first day your store was opened or the first day you took ownership of your store. For example, if your store opened before you took ownership, you would enter the date you took over as owner and not the date the farmers market opened.
    • Store name
    • Supporting organization: Identify the organization that may be assisting your market in the process of becoming authorized to use SNAP. Or indicate that no organization is assisting you.
    • Store address
    • Store mailing address
    • Market telephone
    • Email address
    • Ownership type:
      • Sole Proprietorship: Owner of the business
      • Partnership: Any partner associated with the business
      • LLC: Any member/manager in a member/manager-managed LLC
      • Corporation: A board member of the board’s designee
      • Nonprofit Organization: A board member or the boards designee in a nonprofit corporation; any member selected by a majority of members in an unincorporated nonprofit association
      • Cooperative: A board member or the board’s designee; any designated cooperative member if there is no board

 

Step 2: Apply

Begin your online application

Once you start, you will find USDA’s definition of a farmers market:

“Two or more farmer-producers that sell their own agricultural products directly to the general public at a fixed location, particularly fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, and grains.“

If your organization does not fit this definition, you are using the wrong application. You may be considered a store and will need to use the store application.

 

Download your free step-by-step application guide here

 

Food Hubs & Mobile Markets

Getting approved as a food hub or mobile market can be difficult in Oklahoma state.

Visit the resource library at oklac.org and select "SNAP" to view resources and information related to food hubs and mobile markets.

Direct-to-Consumer Farms

Also known as direct-to-market farms, these are establishments where the producer or grower is selling items directly on site. DTMs can fill out a farmers market SNAP application.

Submit on time

After starting your application, you have 30 days to complete and submit it.

Once submitted, there may be more documentation needed for your application. Instructions will be provided at the end of your application if more documentation is needed.

Wait for your EBT machine

EBT machines are provided free of charge to approved farmers markets and DTMs. A representative will get in contact with you about receiving your machine and include instructions.

Keep in mind it may take just over a month to receive your machine, so be patient! ONIE can provide free guidance on using your new EBT machine if you need it.

 

Step 3: Promote

Once you are approved to accept SNAP, it's time to promote your market or farm stand & start selling!

ONIE provides FREE promotional materials, including:

    • Custom banners
    • Feather flags
    • Sandwich boards/A-frames
    • Tablecloths
    • Canopies
    • T-shirts
    • Shopper wagons
    • Token pouches
    • Paid social media advertising
    • Recipe cards
    • and more!

Nervous about implementing SNAP at your market?

We can help with that, too!

ONIE can provide you with free pre-recorded video training for you and your vendors as well as 1:1 consultations about market accounting, EBT machine usage, and more.

 

CLICK HERE to download your free step-by-step application guide to get started!