Maine agribusinesses can get free equipment to handle SNAP sales
Maine agricultural producers and farmers markets can get equipment at no cost to handle transactions with customers using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefits Transfer cards.
The state’s Farm Food Access Program provides reimbursement for the equipment, helping agribusinesses easily sell to the roughly one in eight Mainers who receive federal SNAP benefits, according to a news release last week.
The FFAP, developed by the Maine Bureau of Agriculture, Maine Department of Health and Human Services, and Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets, launched in 2020 to provide more opportunities for individuals and families to purchase local foods through SNAP. Families, seniors and income-eligible individuals in Maine spend more than $200 million with SNAP benefits.
The federation has reported that over $250,000 in federal SNAP benefits were spent with local farms in 2020. More than 30 producers and farmers' markets have acquired equipment and now accept SNAP transactions.
"Our neighbors were so excited that they could keep their SNAP dollars local and support our farm," says Cynthia Turcotte, owner of Applewald Farm, which is based in Litchfield and participates in the program.
Jimmy DeBiasi, the director of programs at Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets, said, "Due to the pandemic, we saw record numbers of SNAP sales being spent on local food. People preferred to shop in less crowded and open-air places, when possible. The timing of FFAP has been remarkable, as it offered people who shop with SNAP new places to access fresh, local, and healthy food in safe environments."
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