EBT Farmers' Market Nutrition Project
The need for EBT at California Farmers’ Markets – Why and How
California
no longer issues paper food stamps. Eligible recipients of food assistance
in California are now issued a debit card called a “Golden State
Advantage” card (known also as an “EBT card” or
a “food stamp card”), and access their food benefits electronically
by swiping their card when they buy food at the grocery store. California
Farmers’ Markets, and other outdoor food markets and produce
stands, do not usually have the electricity and phone lines needed
for all eligible food vendors to deal with electronic benefit transfers.
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) Device 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 to accept EBT food benefits
and to organize and promote the use of EBT cards at the market.
How to accept EBT at your Farmers’ Market
A Simple Guide for Market Managers - Updated March 2008 (.pdf, 332 KB)
State EBT Scrip Guidelines (.pdf, 36 KB)
State EBT Scrip Participation Agreement (.pdf, 72 KB)
Poster: "We Gladly Accept EBT" (.pdf, 284 KB)
Flyer (Bilingual): "EBT Accepted Here" (.pdf, 396 KB)
Sample record-keeping forms, market descriptions & vendor agreements
EBT Token Daily Redemption Report (.doc, 48 KB)
EBT Monthly Usage Report (.doc, 56 KB)
Berkeley Farmers’ Markets Information for EBT Scrip (.pdf, 100 KB)
Promoting Nutrition to Food Stamp Recipients at CA Farmers' Markets (.pdf, 145 KB)
Other promotional resources
Project Newsletters
EBT Project big poster 2005 (.pdf, 2.4 MB)
Welcoming Food Stamp Customers Back (.pdf, 4.3 MB)
In The News
Real Food For All - Edible San Francisco, March 13, 2008 (.pdf, 8 KB)
Por una alimentación con justicia y salud - La Opinión Digital, October 22, 2007 (.pdf, 192 KB)
Group spreads message about ag - Fresno Bee, March 1, 2007 (.pdf, 56 KB)
Cherry Avenue Auction Goes High-Tech - July 8, 2006 (.pdf, 176 KB)
EBT Comes to Stockton and Tracy Farmers' Markets (.pdf, 174 KB)
Farmers' Market EBT Trends 2004-01 to 2006-12
California Farmers' Markets That Accept EBT (.pdf, 212 KB)
Farmers' Market EBT Projects in Other States
The
Ecology Center is coordinating the EBT Farmers' Market Nutrition Project
to assist eligible Farmers' Markets that accept EBT to promote nutrition and healthy eating through increased EBT redemption for fresh fruits and vegetables. This project is funded by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Food Stamp Program, an equal opportunity provider and employer, through the Network for a Healthy California. For more information on Food Stamp Benefits, call (888) 328-3483.
