The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program is a federal program providing supplemental nutrition to families with young children. In Maine it is administered by the CDC. Families are issued checks which they may use to purchase certain healthy foods. Most families also receive “Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program” checks every summer, and those checks may only […]
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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? The USDA-funded (free) SNAP EBT Equipment Program has reopened (more info here). This is a […]
Low-tech and no-cost methods for accepting EBT
October 10, 2018 CategoriesIf your market is new to accepting SNAP/EBT, or if you’re only processing a few SNAP transactions each week, it may be worth pursuing the low-tech and no-cost approach to accepting EBT. Below are your two options: Option 1: Free landline machine from Maine DHHS via Conduent The Maine Department of Health and Human Services […]
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 […]
FM Tracks Changes for 2018- The Guide
June 8, 2018 CategoriesFM Tracks has changed how we report Maine Harvest Bucks redemption. Below is a complete walk-through of all the steps to fill out an FM Tracks report for each market day. If you are familiar with past year’s FM Tracks reporting requirements, click here to get to the “FINAL STEP” and learn about the new […]
Now Hiring: Washington County Farmers’ Market Outreach Liaison
June 6, 2018 CategoriesJob Announcement: Washington County Farmers’ Market Outreach Liaison Apply Now, Click here to apply! Overview: This position will play an important role in supporting SNAP (the program formerly known as food stamps) access programs at Washington County farmers’ markets. This project is a collaboration with the Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets (MFFM) and the Women’s […]
MFFM Secures Funding Support for Maine Harvest Bucks
May 30, 2018 CategoriesWe’re pleased to announce that we have secured funding for the Maine Harvest Bucks program for the 2018 season. Stay tuned for more details, but in the meantime, our 30+ farmers’ markets can now move full steam ahead in operating the program this year. This is welcome news, as the summer market season gets underway. Maine […]
Now Hiring: Info Booth Manager at Presque Isle Farmers’ Market
May 25, 2018 CategoriesApply Now! Click here for application. Job Opening: Info Booth Manager Presque Isle FM at Riverside Schedule: 5.5 hours / week Saturdays, June through October 8:00am – 1:30 pm every Saturday while market is open, June to October Overview The Maine Harvest Bucks incentive program helps shoppers using SNAP food supplement benefits at farmers’ markets […]
Free summer meals available for kids under 18
May 25, 2018 CategoriesSummer Meals are free for all kids age 18 and under! The USDA Summer Food Service Program was established to ensure children in income eligible areas continue to receive nutritious meals during the summer months when school is not in session. There are over 400 sites across Maine where anyone 18 and younger can get […]