State-wide Farmers Market EBT Demonstration.

Many farmers in West Virginia lack the financial resources to implement conservation practices. By increasing the access to farmers markets for SNAP participants state wide, we can increase the amount of business available to West Virginia farmers. In West Virginia consumers receive $314 million in SNAP benefits to purchase food. Currently, a very minimal portion of this is spent on local products. Increasing the amount of SNAP benefits that farmers can access has the potential to greatly increase their income, and the easiest way for farmers to access these markets is through the local farmers market.

The first state-wide demonstration of EBT (SNAP Benefits) at a farmers market in West Virginia took place on February 17^th, 2011. This was the first time the annual West Virginia Farmers Market Association’s Winter Blues Farmers Market featured this service. It was put together in partnership with WesMonTy RC&D, West Virginia Farmers Market Association, and the South Morgantown Farmers Market. Lesa Gay, the market manager of the South Morgantown Farmers Market donated the use of the EBT machine for this event.

This event was designed with simplicity in mind to create a positive experience for farmers who are new to the experience of EBT. We used the voucher system for the market. We had a table set up in a corner where the EBT machine was. Customers could come over to the table and swipe their EBT or credit card for any amount and receive vouchers in return. The vouchers came in $1 and $10 denominations. These vouchers were used in lieu of cash at every vendor. In order to distinguish between EBT and Credit vouchers, we simply punched a hole in the EBT vouchers over a SNAP marking. This was important because the EBT vouchers were unable to be redeemed for cash, whereas the credit vouchers can be.

Each vendor was briefed on the vouchers and received a receipt slip inside a ziplock bag. At the end of the night, the vendors added up their vouchers and placed them in the bag for redemption. The vendors then turned them in to the staff at the voucher table and had a check printed up there for them. Many of the vendors commented on the ease of using the vouchers.

The project was very successful. The table did a total of $1,142 in redemption, with $131 of that as SNAP benefits! That means nearly 10% of electronic transactions were SNAP benefits!

This is important for several reasons. First, it allowed consumers to purchase more than they may have originally intended by providing them with a way to use their credit, debit or EBT cards. Secondly, that is $1,142 that may not have been spent otherwise. By providing another opportunity for consumers to purchase items, the total purchase amounts were increased. Because the farmers received their money at the end of the night, it reduces the turn-around time and gave them a positive impression of EBT at the farmers market.

The income generated at the market is more money that these producers can use toward implementing NRCS conservation programs such as EQIP high tunnel, AMA and the Organic Initiative. This is an example of implementation of USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen A. Merrigan’s January 21, 2011 bulletin encouraging Harnessing USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Programs to Support Local and Regional Food Systems (http://kyf.blogs.usda.gov/files/2011/01/NRCS-Memo.pdf).