Setting up a SNAP/EBT Program for Dept. of Health and other Government-owned Markets

1. Setting up a SNAP/EBT Program for Dept. of Health and other Government-owned Markets Heather Henderson, SNAP Technical Support Fresh Access Bucks

2. Are you a farmer’s market? 1. Two or more vendors each market day 2. Takes place at the same location each market day 3. Occurs at a specified time on a specified day

3. SNAP eligible Items • Breads and cereals • Fruits and vegetables • Meats, fish and poultry • Dairy products • Seeds and plants which produce food

4. Dept. of Health markets are in a unique position to reach out to vendors who accept the FMNP vouchers because when WIC recipients receive their vouchers at the DOH, they can walk right out the door into a market full of vendors which accept them. To accept Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program vouchers, which are distributed through WIC and Elderly Affairs, a vendor must apply for the program through Fresh From Florida. Information is available through: Kelly Warren Farmers’ Market Nutrition ProgramFlorida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services600 S. Calhoun St. (H2)Tallahassee, FL 32399-0800 FMNP vouchers

5. Financial Considerations For traditional markets, the following applies: • Booth staff time (4 - 5 hrs/wk) • Project management time (1 - 3 hrs/wk) • Tokens or vouchers (approx. $150) • Business bank account (variable) • Equipment and a merchant services contract (approx. $800-1200 in initial costs) • Farmers Market Coalition has a deal with MerchantSource for discounted equipment • Booth materials (approx. $250) • Promotional materials (approx. $700) Government-owned markets must often partner with non-profit organizations and/or local government to pay for the items needed by traditional markets. Reaching out to community partners for support is imperative when starting a market as a governmental organization.

6. SNAP Authorization Online Application: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/apply-to-accept Application Guidance: www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/Application_Guidance.pdf • First, set up an eAuthentication 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 • Log in and then when it asks Farmer’s Market or Retailer, choose Farmer’s Market • Next are questions about location, when you opened, your tax ID, what foods you sell, your season, and ownership type: Government-owned, Nonprofit owned, LLC, Publicly owned, or Privately owned • You will choose “Government-owned” which will eliminate the need for a responsible official but will still require documentation describing county or state ownership. • Additional documentation will need to be provided once application is submitted: Certification & Signature statement, Letters describing government ownership, and a copy of the driver’s license of the market manager. • Following submission, you will be assigned an FNS number

7. Implementing your program Similar to what you need to do to promote your market accepting the FMNP vouchers, it’s important to educate the community! • Reach out to rural and under-served communities • Promote the SNAP program through social media, radio, newspaper, television, or public transit advertisements • Provide nutrition education and information to SNAP customers • Recruit and support vendors who have SNAP-eligible items, especially fruits and vegetables

8. Fresh Access Bucks • 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 market on fruits and vegetables • Funds available for your market 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