Farm Food Stamp EBT Pilot Program
January - 2005
Did you know that approximately $12 million in food stamps are issued in Maine each month?Are you interested in expanding your customer base?Do you have a landline phone at your farm store or farm stand?If so…the New Electronic Food Stamp System may work for YOU!Call 1-877-823-4369 for an application. |
The easiest method of using and accepting food stamps is through EBT (electronic benefits transfer), using a point-of-sale machine and an "EBT" card (like a debit card). Because the electronic system is dependent on having a readily available land phone line, it means that most farmers are unable to accept stamps at a farmers' market or roadside stand. BUT, for farms that have stores with phone lines, it might actually be much easier than in the past to accept food stamp sales.
The Maine Department of Agriculture, USDA, the Maine Nutrition Network, and the Maine Department of Human Services are starting an Electronic Food Stamp Pilot project that may be of interest to you! As part of this 2- year pilot project, 40 EBT machines will be made available at no charge to Maine farmers, with the monthly rental fee waived regardless of the amount of food stamps accepted during this period. (Note: the regular rental fee for the machine is $22 per month if food stamp sales are under $100 per month - otherwise the machine is free.)
In order to make this project worthwhile, participating farmers should advertise that they are "EBT-friendly" (i.e. put up signs, call the local food stamp office, publicize in community papers). In addition, the coordinating agencies (above) will work together to inform food stamp recipients of farms in their area that accept EBT cards.
How to sign up:
To participate in the pilot program and receive a free EBT machine, farmers should sign up as soon as possible! The 40 machines will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Farms signing up after April will not be guaranteed inclusion in information provided to food stamp recipients (e.g. printed materials may have already gone out).
To sign up, call 1-877-823-4369 and ask for an application form to be authorized to accept food stamp sales. The application will be sent to you within a few days. Be sure to indicate on your application form that you are interested in participating in the Farm Food Stamp EBT Pilot Project. If you are accepted for the program, you will receive an EBT machine for the season. (Note: if your farm store/stand is only open part of the year, you will need to ship it back at the end of the season and get another the following season.)
Questions?
Any questions about filling out the application or the authorization process should be directed to Debbie Crosby at the USDA Food and Nutrition Service office in Augusta (207-622-8255).
Other questions or comments can be directed to the Maine Department of Agriculture c/o Leah Rominger, 207-287-3491.