The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps, helps low-income families buy the food they need in order to stay health. Eligible SNAP recipients receive an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which is used like a debit card at participating grocery stores and farmers markets.

The SNAP program is managed at the federal level by the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and requires that food vendors be licensed with FNS before accepting SNAP benefits for approved food items. In Idaho, the program is managed by the Department of Health and Welfare.

SNAP benefits can be used to purchase any approved food item for human consumption and seeds and plants that produce food.

Clients receive their benefits via an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) system that works like a debit card to transfer their benefits to the food retailer.

Markets can become authorized SNAP retailers by applying for an FNS number with the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service. You’ll need to fill out an application, which is completed online through the FNS website.

The application does not take long to do if you have access to details about your market’s organization and business structure and who from your market should be listed as official contacts. If your market's paperwork is in order, it usually takes less than an hour to complete the application. It will take longer if your market organization is brand new or market records are hard to come by. Once you start the application online, you have 30 days to complete it, so go ahead and save your work and come back to it as needed. IFMA can help you prepare your application, just click the button below to schedule a time to talk!

Once FNS approves your market to accept SNAP benefits, you will need to set up an account with the payment processor, FIS. The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare is able to provide EBT machines to farmers markets free of charge. Reach out to the SNAP/EBT team at IDHW by clicking on the link below and submitting an email request.

IDHW will provide FIS with the relevant information to set you up with an EBT machine. There are wired and wireless options, though the wired machines are prioritized. Wireless machines operate on AT&T networks.

IFMA member markets are eligible to receive wooden tokens through a partner vendor. Typically, we will purchase 250 EBT tokens to start and will have these shipped directly to you. Tokens are printed with your market logo and differentiate between EBT and DUFB. Tokens can come in varying denominations, but $1 tokens are recommended. To request tokens, please click on the link above.