Food Stamp Customers can Now Use their
Benefits (EBT) Card at the East End Farmers Market
Cortland, NY-Those with food stamp benefits are now able to use their food stamp (EBT) card at the East End Farmers' Market. This electronic transaction is made possible through wireless technology which is set up at the market manager's booth. Upon arrival to the market, food stamp customers can use their card to purchase $1 wooden tokens. These tokens then function as cash within the market.
At the market, food stamp customers are able to purchase food-stamp authorized goods such as: fruits and vegetables, meats, maple syrup and other maple products, honey, breads, baked goods, jams and jellies, processed foods and even seeds and plants which produce food.
"When it comes to food stamp customers, we're trying to emphasize that their benefits can go farther than they may have thought at the farmers market. Not only are they able to obtain farm-fresh food, they have access to vendors and farmers who are ready and willing to share advice, tips and recipes," says Diane Eggert, Executive Director of the Farmers Market Federation of NY.
And it's not just food stamp customers who are benefiting from the ability to use their cards at the East End Farmers Market. Farmers and vendors are benefiting from the increased sales and traffic at the market as they are able to redeem the tokens for a 100% cash exchange.
"This is a positive, win-win situation for everyone involved in the East End Farmers Market - both the vendors and the food stamp customers. Now, food stamp customers have access to the freshest, healthiest produce and products that the Cortland area has to offer!" says Lisa Lickona, co-manager of the market.
The East End Farmers' Market is held at Dexter Park, at the corner of Elm and Franklin Streets, on Saturdays from 8 to 1. The market is sponsored by the Cortland County Chamber of Commerce. More information on the market can be found at Eastendfarmersmarket.com.
Cortland, NY-Those with food stamp benefits are now able to use their food stamp (EBT) card at the East End Farmers' Market. This electronic transaction is made possible through wireless technology which is set up at the market manager's booth. Upon arrival to the market, food stamp customers can use their card to purchase $1 wooden tokens. These tokens then function as cash within the market.
At the market, food stamp customers are able to purchase food-stamp authorized goods such as: fruits and vegetables, meats, maple syrup and other maple products, honey, breads, baked goods, jams and jellies, processed foods and even seeds and plants which produce food.
"When it comes to food stamp customers, we're trying to emphasize that their benefits can go farther than they may have thought at the farmers market. Not only are they able to obtain farm-fresh food, they have access to vendors and farmers who are ready and willing to share advice, tips and recipes," says Diane Eggert, Executive Director of the Farmers Market Federation of NY.
And it's not just food stamp customers who are benefiting from the ability to use their cards at the East End Farmers Market. Farmers and vendors are benefiting from the increased sales and traffic at the market as they are able to redeem the tokens for a 100% cash exchange.
"This is a positive, win-win situation for everyone involved in the East End Farmers Market - both the vendors and the food stamp customers. Now, food stamp customers have access to the freshest, healthiest produce and products that the Cortland area has to offer!" says Lisa Lickona, co-manager of the market.
The East End Farmers' Market is held at Dexter Park, at the corner of Elm and Franklin Streets, on Saturdays from 8 to 1. The market is sponsored by the Cortland County Chamber of Commerce. More information on the market can be found at Eastendfarmersmarket.com.
