| One of the benefits of having a farmers’ market in a community is increasing residents’ access to healthy foods. An important part of this process is implementing the acceptance of alternative payment methods like Food Stamps, senior coupons, and WIC farmers’ market coupons. The following guides walk market managers through the steps of accepting these forms of payment.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Formerly known as Food Stamps, SNAP provides qualified customers with Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to use for food purchases. The qualification depends on income, money saved, and number of people in the household. To accept SNAP benefits, a market must be certified. Below is information on how to make your market SNAP accessible.
 Handbook on Accepting SNAP at Farmers’ Markets
This booklet describes the process of applying to accept SNAP, funding the equipment, and accepting this form of payment at farmers’ markets.
Apply to Accept SNAP at Your Market
The USDA provides application materials and technical steps for accepting SNAP.
How to Bring EBT to Farmers’ Markets
This is an outline of considerations for accepting and publicizing the acceptance of SNAP at a farmers’ market.
How Customers Qualify for SNAP
Gettingsnap.org outlines the way low-income customers qualify to use SNAP.
The Basics of Bounty Bucks
Boston Bounty Bucks (BBB) is an incentive program for SNAP clients. It provides a dollar-for-dollar match up to $10 each time a SNAP client shops at a participating farmers’ market. For more information about BBB, visit The Food Project, the organization that manages the program.
For questions about Bounty Bucks, contact Max Gitlen (see Contact Information).
Farmers’ Market Nutritional Programs
This coupon system benefits low-income seniors through the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) and participants of the Federal Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Certification for Accepting WIC and SFMNP
To accept WIC or SFMNP coupons, a market must be certified by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. The training is approximately one hour and can be conducted in person or over the phone.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutritional Program
This program provides supplemental foods to pregnant, post-partum, and breastfeeding women; infants; and children under six years of age.
Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)
Low-income seniors can be eligible to receive coupons for farmers’ markets with grants provided by MDAR through the SFMNP to Elderly Nutrition Programs. |