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SNAP for Farmers
What is SNAP
 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
 Formerly the food stamp program
http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com
Why accept SNAP?
 Compliments the FMNP program with a wider range of
eligible products
 46 million Americans receive SNAP benefits
 NYS distributes over $5 Billion in SNAP benefits annually
SNAP adds customers and sales to your farm!
http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com
What is Market Link™
 Complete technology solution for farmers and markets.
 Smartphone, card reader and blue-tooth connected printer
 Nationally negotiated rates with third party processor
 USDA support for operational fees
 Expedited applications
http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com
Eligibility
Free Terminal Program
 Direct marketing
farmer
 Participating in at least
one market that is not
already SNAP
authorized
OR
 Farmers market not
currently accepting
SNAP
Eligible for Support
from NYS program:
 Direct marketing
farmer
 Farmers Market
 CSA
 Mobile Market
Free Terminal Program:
Fees & Commitments
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
iPhone with card reader
$0
$0
$0
Wireless data service
(2 years)
$0
$0
From $30/month*
Annual fee for payment
processing (1 year)
$0
$120
$120
License Fee for
MobileMarket+
application
$0
$0
$100
Transaction fees
Total
SNAP: 15 cents per transaction
Credit & debit: 1.79% of sale plus 15 cents
$0
$120
* Varies based on provider (Verizon, AT&T, TMobile, etc.)
$220
Options and Commitments
Options
Commitment
 Provide your own phone
 3 year commitment to
for full 3 years of fees
covered
 iPhone
WorldPay
 Early termination fees
apply
 Android
 iPad
 Mini iPad
http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com
NYS Program adds on:
 Training
 Promotional materials
 www.nyfarmersmarket.com/ebt
 Signage
 Tokens
 Fee reimbursement:
 Transaction fees ((SNAP only)
 Annual processing fee
 Annual licensing fee
Where can you use the equipment?
 Anywhere that makes the most sense to you!
 Farmers market
 Can be used simultaneously with tokens
 Farm stand
 PYO
 CSA programs
 Cannot accept prepayment greater than 14 days in advance, nor
membership or delivery fees
CANNOT be used for SNAP with online sales!
http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com
SNAP Eligible Products
 All fruits and vegetables
 Meats, fish and poultry
 Cheese and all dairy products
 Eggs
 Baked goods
 Processed foods
 Maple/honey/cider/juices
 Herbs – plants and bunched
 Plants and seeds that bear food
Ineligible Products:
• Non food products
• Wine & alcohol
products
• Hot foods
• Foods meant to be
eaten on site
Debit and Credit
 This is a part of the MarketLink package
 Fees are your own, no reimbursement
 No monthly minimums
http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com
Grow Sales with
Electronic Payments
 Community Merchants USA, reported in Forbes
Magazine that only 27% of sales today are
completed in cash.
 Cash sales are estimated to drop to less than 23% in
the next four years.
 Another study shows that the size of a sale can
increase as much as 40% when using a credit card.
 Do business the way your customers want to do
business
How do I participate?
 You must have an email address that is being used!
 Complete the USDA FNS Retailer application
 Requires copies of drivers license, Social Security card, business
license of some sort
 Complete the WorldPay Customer Processing Agreement
 Requires banking information
http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com
Two ways to go through the
applications:
1) go to www.marketlink.org
 Instructions are available to help you through the application
process
2) Phone appointment with Federation and do apps over the
phone
 Completed apps emailed to you for signature and submission
http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com
Terminal Set up
 Once approved by USDA and after you have completed and
submitted the WorldPay application, you will receive your
new iPhone from Mobile Market+™
 Unpack and charge your iPhone
 Use the Quick Start Guide to prepare to accept transactions
Training by Market Link Team:
Terminal set up
Terminal usage
http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com
Your responsibilities
 Maintain adequate funds in your checking account to cover





fees
Reconcile your account monthly
Farmers market mandatory training via webinar
Farmers must accept payment ONLY on SNAP eligible
products
Treat SNAP customers with dignity and respect
Be prepared to accept SNAP payments throughout the
market hours, each market day
What’s coming?
 Farmers Market Coalition
 USDA Supported assistance to markets with expiring
equipment
 SNAP-authorized farmers markets and direct marketing
farmers (who sell at one or more farmers markets) are eligible
for funding if they became authorized before Nov. 18,
2011, AND fall into one of the following categories:
 A. They do not currently possess functioning EBT equipment; OR
B. They currently possess functioning EBT equipment, but received
that equipment before May 2, 2012.
 Visit www.fmctoolbox.org for eligibility (Feb 17)
 Mini-grants to build EBT programs (no date set yet)
http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com
Questions?
http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com
Contact us today!
The Farmers Market Federation of NY provides SNAP assistance to
all farmers and markets in NY State
315-637-4690
315-400-1449
http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com