As you may have noticed on visits to our Winter Farmers’ Market, participating vendors are now able to accept SNAP, also known as food stamps. By Matt Kanner at The Wire:
New features make winter farmers’ markets more accessible
Shoppers who visited the winter farmers’ market at the Wentworth Greenhouses in Rollinsford on Dec. 3 were treated to several new technological features designed to make their experience more convenient.
More than 20 farms and food producers now accept “food stamps,” now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. SNAP customers can swipe their electronic benefit cards at a booth in exchange for tokens that can be used to shop with approved vendors at the markets. That’s good news for the nearly one in 10 New Hampshire families that currently use food stamps, according to Seacoast Eat Local.
Anyone’s debit cards also can be used in the same fashion.
Also, Seacoast Eat Local has updated its website to provide access to a full list of participating market vendors, product searches, and interactive market maps that show exactly where each vendor will be stationed.
Many vendors now accept pre-orders so that shoppers don’t have to arrive early at the market to get what they’re looking for. In years past, markets have experienced an early rush, but organizers stress that participating farmers have an abundance of food available throughout the market hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Upcoming farmers’ markets take place at Exeter High School on Saturday, Dec. 10, and at the Wentworth Greenhouses on Saturday, Dec. 17. The markets continue in 2012 on a bi-weekly basis through April. For a complete schedule and more information, visit www.seacoasteatlocal.org.
For more information: www.wirenh.com