Farmers' Market EBT Project

EBT token boothCalifornia no longer issues paper food stamps. Eligible recipients of food assistance are now enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and issued a debit card called a "Golden State Advantage" card (known also as an "EBT card" or a "food stamp card"). Recipients access their food benefits electronically by swiping their card when they buy food at grocery stores.

California farmers' markets, flea markets and produce stands do not usually have the electricity and phone lines needed for all eligible food vendors to accept electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards individually. Therefore, many such markets allow all eligible food vendors to sell eligible food products to EBT cardholders by setting up a central Point of Sale (POS) terminal to sell market scrip to customers, who can then shop in the market with the scrip. This system requires the market management to become authorized as a SNAP retailer by the USDA, and to organize and promote the use of EBT cards at the market.



The Farmers' Market EBT Project is collecting data in order to create a database of all EBT-accessible farmers' markets statewide. The target date for this database is early 2012, but in the meantime you can download information on farmers' markets in certain counties. Click here to find your county.

San Diego Farmers' Markets & EBT Workshop, April 4th

Invitation Letter
Flyer

Want a workshop in your area? Contact Carle Brinkman, Project Manager, Farmers' Market EBT Project.


How to accept EBT at your farmers' market

Check out our new and improved Simple Guide. Please send feedback to Project Manager, Carle Brinkman at ebt@ecologycenter.org

A Simple Guide for Market Managers - Updated July 2011 [PDF, 10MB]

  • Special note to California Farmers' Markets: California Department of Social Services will provide a free wireless POS terminal to process transactions at the markets. CDSS will provide and maintain free equipment and pay all fees associated with EBT transactions at farmers' markets in most cases. Learn more here.
  • Learn more about the National Farmers' Market EBT program and apply online to be authorized by the USDA to accept EBT cards.

The Ecology Center is coordinating the Farmers' Market EBT Project to assist farmers' markets and community partners in setting up and promoting SNAP EBT access to fresh fruits and vegetables at California farmers' markets. The project is funded in part by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, through the Specialty Crops Block Grant Program. For more information about SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly the Food Stamp Program), call 1-877-847-3663.