Contacts:
Kelly Loftus, Agency of Agriculture, (802) 828-3829

Monday, August 6, 2007

Winooski, VT – On Thursday, August 9, 2007, Governor Douglas joined the Winooski farmer’s market vendors and customers to announce the implementation of a new and innovative program that will allow farmers’ markets to accept Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards and debit cards. Until now, farmers’ markets did not have the technological capacity to accept food stamp benefits in electronic form or to accept debit cards as a form of payment. This event highlighted the new program where customers at farmers’ markets receive market money in $1 increments for EBT purchases and $5 increments for debit card purchases. The process works very much like using an ATM.

“This is important for the economy of our farmers and producers of Vermont and it’s important for the nutritional benefit or our families and it’s really important for the betterment of our communities,” said Governor Douglas at the launch event Thursday.

This project was initiated to increase access of fresh produce and local products to low-income Vermonters and to increase sales and attendance at farmers’ markets. The Northeast Organic Farming Association received funding for the project from a USDA Farmer’s Market Promotion Program grant. NOFA worked in collaboration with the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger, Vermont Department of Children and Families as well as the Vermont Agency of Agriculture to bring the program to fruition. Two other markets are involved in the pilot program: Brattleboro Farmer’s Market and the Bellows Falls market.

This pilot program will provide the foundation for providing these services at other farmers’ markets and also farm stands in the future. “We expect these services to provide a role in increasing the diversity of the farmer’s market consumers while increasing traffic for vendors,” said Roger Allbee, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture. “We appreciate the work of NOFA and the other groups involved who helped make this happen.”