Farmers’ markets across Maine are adapting their operations for the winter months during Covid-19. The Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets (MFFM) reports that there are 26 winter farmers’ markets running up through December, some even longer! From Kittery and Berwick, all the way up to Orono, winter farmers’ markets are open for business to feed […]
EBT
Healthier Markets – A Resource Guide
November 13, 2020 CategoriesA healthy farmers market is about more than locally grown food – it also means a clean market environment and promoting positive life choices! Farmers’ markets have community-focused missions that promote healthy lifestyles and strong communities. There are simple steps market organizers can take to advance their mission and make sure their markets are a cleaner […]
Free SNAP sign-up during the Maine Agricultural Trades Show & MFFM Convention
January 9, 2020 Categories
The Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets (MFFM) invites farmers’ market organizers and direct-marketing farmers to sign up to accept SNAP/EBT on January 16th during the Maine Agricultural Trades Show. There are more than 160,000 people in Maine who purchase food with SNAP. Farmers and farmers’ markets can grow their customer base, and provide a critical […]
Partnership with DACF helps farmers’ markets process SNAP/EBT.
October 21, 2019 Categories
This year, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) partnered with the Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets (MFFM) to help cover the cost of purchasing SNAP processing equipment for farmers’ markets. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, the program formerly known as food stamps, helps 1 in 8 Mainers (mostly children and […]
EBT Equipment Options for your Farmers’ Market
October 10, 2018 CategoriesLet’s navigate the EBT equipment world together. This article addresses the free SNAP EBT Equipment Program and discusses additional options for ineligible markets. All markets that accept SNAP/EBT must possess a machine that processes the EBT transaction. Free Equipment? Free, wireless, SNAP-Only equipment is available via Maine Department of Health & Human Services for farmers’ […]
Low-tech and no-cost methods for accepting EBT
October 10, 2018 CategoriesUPDATE -10.9.2019 – This information is dated. While it still remains a valid way to process SNAP transactions, there are much more convenient and free, or low-cost options available. The best step forward is to contact MFFM – email snap@mffm.org or call (207) 370 1524. If your market is new to accepting SNAP/EBT, or if […]
Buying your own EBT Equipment
October 10, 2018 CategoriesIf you’re looking to purchase EBT equipment for your SNAP program, without the help of a grant to subsidize the cost, then you should fall into one, or ideally all, of these categories: Our market has offered SNAP for years; Our vendors are dedicated to keeping this program sustained; We have enough shoppers using SNAP/EBT […]
Information booths at markets
August 21, 2018 CategoriesInformation booths (“info booths”) are popping up at more and more farmers’ markets in Maine. The primary service they provide to markets is that they offer a central location for shoppers to pay for all of their goods. At a busy market, the information booth cuts down on the transaction time for vendors, since they no longer […]
After Years of Planning, Farmington Farmers’ Market launches Maine Harvest Bucks
July 16, 2018 CategoriesErica Emery, of Rustic Roots Farm, began working with MFFM in 2016 to explore how to bring Maine Harvest Bucks to the Farmington Farmers’ Market. It took 2 years of “almosts” and “maybes” to find the perfect local partner to support the project and help get it off the ground. This year, the market is […]
New Info Booth Manager for Presque Isle
July 9, 2018 CategoriesMFFM is pleased to announce that we have hired Lindsay Pelletier as the new Info Booth Manager for the Presque Isle Farmers’ Market at Riverside. Lindsay will operate the info booth at the market every Saturday, processing credit, debit, and SNAP transactions at the market (which is located at 27 Riverside Drive, and takes place […]