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Why more Ohio farms, farmers markets are accepting SNAP benefits
There is a growing number of farmers markets and farms across the nation that accept food assistance benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Approximately 3,145 farmers markets across the nation accept SNAP, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That is up by roughly 550 since 2021.
What those numbers do not show is how many vendors at those markets, like Wayne County’s Moreland Fruit Farm, also accept SNAP benefits.
“We use it more at the markets than here at our farm, but it definitely benefits us at those farmers markets in Medina, Upper Arlington and Westerville,” said Andy Miller, a manager at the fruit farm.
For many farms like the one in Moreland, accepting food assistance benefits has many upsides that include boosting income, connecting with communities and allowing more access to fresh food in rural food deserts.
However, low staffing and a lack of reliable internet are among the primary reasons why no farmers markets in Wayne, Ashland and Holmes counties accept SNAP.
The nearest markets are in Medina, Knox, Summit, Stark and Tuscarawas counties, according to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services.
Farms and farmers markets accepting SNAP benefits
In Ohio, the number of farms and farmers markets accepting SNAP payments increased from 117 in 2013 to 132 in 2020.
Roughly 39 counties and over 100 farmers markets accept SNAP benefits in Ohio as of this year, according to the state Department of Job and Family Services, up from 92 markets in 2019.
Not shown in these numbers are operations like Moreland Fruit Farm, which accepts benefits at its on-site store and at farmers markets.
“Our whole farm, including this store (in Moreland), accepts SNAP, but I don’t think we see many people use SNAP here,” Miller said. “It gets the most use
at markets.”
While many farms like Miller’s in Moreland accept food assistance benefits, Pat Bebo said it is more common for farms to piggyback off of farmers markets managing those funds.
This system sees farmers markets managing SNAP benefit funds, which are exchanged for tokens to be spent on food.
“The administrative part of the program is handled by a market manager,” Bebo said, the assistant dean and administrative director of the College of Education and Human Ecology at Ohio State University. “As with any federal program, there are certain admin functions that are necessary.”
Exposure and relationship building
While accepting SNAP benefits increases a farm’s revenue, Bebo said, there are fewer tangible positives for producers and markets.
This includes relationship and community building by bringing people together in one place, he said. Without SNAP, those who rely on the program may not visit farmers markets.
“Of course, the farm would benefit from the exposure and relationship building with individuals and with the community at large,” Bebo explained, but it also increases access to fresh food.
One downside to farmers markets, he said, is that many in underserved communities lack transportation. One solution is the mobile farmers market.
“Having a mobile market creates the opportunity to go to where the gaps exist rather than remaining stationary and still requiring the customer to come to the producer,” Bebo said.
Implementing SNAP acceptance
Main Street Wooster’s downtown farmers market does not accept SNAP benefits, but it is not for lack of trying.
Expanding to include food assistance programs in their summer market is one of Shannon Waller’s goals. However, for the executive director at Main Street Wooster, a combination of infrastructure and staffing has hindered that dream.
“We’ve been looking at that closely to administer the program,” Waller said. “There have been a few obstacles, but we have been looking at it for a couple of years now.”
Although Main Street Wooster expanded its staff last year, she explained, there still are not enough people to operate the required system.
Once she hires one or two extra workers, the operation then needs reliable internet to run.
“If you’ve ever tried to upload something on the square when it is busy, it is extremely slow,” Waller said.
Looking at best practices
When considering SNAP, Waller said she spoke with Main Street Medina, which runs its own farmer’s market on the Medina City Square.
That program, she said, has the manpower and internet to accept SNAP.
The Medina Square Farmers Market staff accepts SNAP, trading money for tokens called Produceperks, according to the market website.
This program provides SNAP beneficiaries an additional dollar for every dollar spent up to $25. To do this, the market partnered with Countryside Food & Farms, a nonprofit that aims to protect food access in rural areas.
Produceperks is a statewide nutrition incentive program run by the Ohio Nutrition Incentive Network, which is supported by the USDA.
On its own, SNAP can purchase a range of goods at the Medina market, including meat, dairy, eggs, baked goods, syrup and fresh vegetables and fruit. Produceperks are limited to fruits, vegetables, herbs and food-producing plants.
The market also accepts programs like Produce Prescriptions, WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program, Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program and Fruit and Vegetable Coupons via Produceperks.
A similar model in Wooster would be ideal, Waller said.