Written by DeAnna Garrett
The Downtown Farmers Market at Ancestor Square in St. George will begin accepting SNAP benefits and the Horizon card (EBT) this Saturday, Sept. 20.
SNAP is a USDA program that offers nutritional assistance to millions of eligible low-income individuals and families, and is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net. As of Oct. 1, 2008, SNAP is the new name for the federal “food stamps” program, and reflects changes such as a focus on nutrition.
With the focus on supplementing nutrition, organizations such as Utahns Against Hunger, a program that works to expand the reach of nutrition programs to the estimated one in six households in Utah that struggle to afford enough food, have begun to initiate the acceptance of SNAP at farmers’ markets, with benefits for recipients, markets, and farmers as well.
“[The] benefit to the market and the farmers is to add additional customers purchasing products,” Downtown Farmers Market manager Jil Gardella said. “It broadens our base of consumers. The more people who shop means the more the farmers grow. We want to help them stay in the farming business and provide fresh farm produce to our community.”
Farmers markets that wish to accept SNAP must become licensed by the Food and Nutrition Service, meet the definition of a farmers’ market, and comply with the Food and Nutrition Service’s market responsibilities, which include training farmers in rules and regulations, developing an accounting system and reimbursing vendors, and providing a secure location for equipment and supplies.
Gardella said that part of the application and licensing process involves “purchasing a wireless merchant credit card terminal that has the capability to accept EBT, known in Utah as the Horizon card. The Downtown Farmers Market was able to receive a grant from Utahns Against Hunger to purchase theirs.
“Approved items are fresh produce, fruit, plant starts that grow edible food (such as tomato plants, etc.), seeds that grow food, and packaged foods such as jelly, cheeses, and bread,” Gardella said.
When recipients arrive at the market, they should find the market information booth, typically located on the west side of Ancestor Square near the entrance of Benja’s, decide how much money to spend from their EBT account, and the booth attendant will run the card for the requested amount. The attendant will give the SNAP recipient wooden tokens, each worth $1, in the amount requested. The tokens are then used to purchase eligible items from vendors.
Recipients can use their tokens that day, or save them for another market day. Items that may not be purchased with SNAP at the market include food served hot, pet foods, vitamins, and non-food items such as soap, crafts, or clothing.
The Downtown Farmers Market is a recurring weekly event each Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, and will continue to accept SNAP benefits throughout future seasons.
