Farmers, farmers market vendors can get free equipment needed to join SNAP program

Farmers market vendors and direct-marketing farmers can apply for a grant to get free, wireless point-of-sale equipment to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, the state said.

The electronic devices were made available at no cost through a federal grant awarded to the Human Services Department by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support access to fresh, healthy foods for SNAP recipients while supporting local farmers, too.

To receive the equipment, farmers market vendors must apply to be an authorized SNAP retailer through Food and Nutrition Service.

Once authorized to accept SNAP, vendors can contact Pennsylvania’s electronic benefit transfer provider Conduent at 1-888-736-6328 to request free wireless EBT processing equipment. These grants also cover set-up costs and one year of SNAP transaction fees.

SNAP helps more than 1.8 million Pennsylvanians — about 700,000 children, about 690,000 people with disabilities and about 300,000 older adults — to expand their purchasing power so they have enough food. There are more than 10,000 authorized retailers participating in SNAP across Pennsylvania, according to federal Agriculture Department.

“This is an opportunity for farmers to reach a new market during a time when preexisting markets have been so volatile, and put nutritious foods into the hands of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable,” said Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding.

The state Agriculture Department has provided guidance to farmers markets and on-farm markets to allow operations to continue with minimal risk for employees and customers. Farmers can open on-farm stands to sell raw produce, eggs, or shelf-stable packaged foods such as jams, jellies or baked goods, without acquiring additional food safety licenses.