Farmers Market Vendors Offered Card Readers

Pennsylvania farmers markets and farm stands accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits can now apply to receive one of 145 available wireless electronic benefit transfer (EBT) machines offered through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

“With more than 1.2 million Pennsylvanians at risk for hunger, the state’s agriculture industry is committed to ensuring access to nutritions food for our citizens,” said acting agriculture secretary George Greig. “Offering these EBT machines to our farmers market vendors makes it even easier for low-income Pennsylvanians to have convenient access to fresh produce.”

Applications are available at www.agriculture.state.pa.us by searching “EBT Wireless Terminal Application” or from Heidi Crager at 717-787-4956.

The machines can also be used for credit card purchases, and training will be offered by the company providing the devices.

Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Card readers will be distributed until gone. Completed applications can be sent to the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Distribution, 2301 N. Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110. The machines are made available through a federal grant.

SNAP, a program of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, puts healthy food on the tables of more than 40 million Americans each month. Pennsylvania’s agriculture department facilitates the national program, in addition to several other food programs, through the Bureau of Food Distribution.

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture