Florida Grant Money Will Help Farmers Markets Accept Food Assistance Cards

Grant will help small businesses and ensure that those on federal benefits
have access to fresh fruits and vegetables

TALLAHASSEE— The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that
farmers markets in Florida will receive financial assistance to allow them
to accept food assistance cards.

The Florida Department of Children and Families will receive $78,749 to
help many local farmers markets acquire the equipment necessary to handle
purchases through an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Card, which are used
by those who receive temporary federal benefits including food and cash
assistance.

“Not only will this grant money help small businesses by giving them the
opportunity for more customers, it will also allow our clients to have
access to local, fresh, healthy food,” said DCF Secretary David Wilkins.
“This will benefit many children and families while also helping Florida’s
economy.”

Farmers markets, which do not always have access to phone lines or
electricity, have had difficulty redeeming food assistance benefits through
the EBT system. As a result of this funding, states may provide wireless
equipment to currently non-participating farmers markets. This grant is
part of $4 million in funding nationwide to encourage farmers markets to
make EBT transactions available.

Nationwide, there are currently more than 1,500 farmers markets using EBT
technology. Since 2008, food assistance expenditures at farmers markets
have risen by 400 percent.

The USDA National Farmers Market Directory lists farmers markets that
accept EBT and other federal nutrition programs. It is available at
http://farmersmarkets.usda.gov. The directory is an easy-to-use tool that
allows users to search for markets based on location, available products
and types of payment accepted. There is information on 143 Florida farmers
markets available at this site.

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CONTACT: Erin Gillespie 850-717-4450

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