NYS Joins with Mobile App to Continue SNAP Use at Farmers Markets

From Gov. Andrew Cuomo:

New York state and the Farmers Market Federation of New York have reached an agreement with the mobile application vendor, Novo Dia Group, to enable Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients to continue to use their benefits at farmers' markets across the state through the rest of the farmers' market season. 

Earlier this month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue urging federal action on this issue.

 

"New York will not stand idly by as the federal government's ineptitude takes food out of the mouths of New Yorkers," Cuomo wrote to Perdue. 

"This is just another example of the Trump administration's continued assault on the nation's most needy," Cuomo said. "While the federal government doles out a contract to an untested company using outdated technology, we will continue to protect not only our most vulnerable residents, but our hard-working farmers."

 

Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded the new contract that provides SNAP EBT equipment and services for farmers' markets to a company that does not support mobile, cellular-based transactions, denying hundreds of thousands of needy families the opportunity to purchase fresh, nutritious, locally-grown fruits and vegetables.  

With no replacement technology in place, and no foresight by the federal government to anticipate this situation, both farmers and SNAP beneficiaries would have suffered. 

The Novo Dia Group, which worked with the USDA to develop the cellular mobile technology that enables farmers' markets to accept SNAP benefit cards for purchases, had indicated that they were no longer able to continue in business due to the lack of continued support from the USDA.

 

In addition, USDA failed to notify impacted states of this problem. Immediately after learning of this egregious oversight, New York state began to work with the Farmers Market Federation of NY and other impacted states to formulate a solution.

 

New York State's short-term agreement with Novo Dia will provide uninterrupted access for SNAP recipients to continue to make purchases at farmers' markets, while also benefiting our local farmers during their busiest season.

 

"Losing access to SNAP through the Novo Dia Group would have been devastating to farmers' markets. Low income consumers would lose access to fresh, healthy and locally grown foods, while our state's farmers would have lost significant income that is critical to supporting our family farmers," said Diane Eggert, executive director.of the Farmers Market Federation of NY.

A record number of farmers markets in NYS now accept SNAP benefits.

Check Out Winter Farmers' Markets

New Yorkers should remember that dozens of farmers’ markets are open across the state through the winter season.  

Winter markets provide shoppers the opportunity to buy farm-fresh foods and other products while supporting local farmers. 

For a second year, 14 winter markets are also issuing FreshConnect Checks, which allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants to increase their buying power when they shop at farmers’ markets. 

Additional markets are encouraged to join the program to provide a greater number of FreshConnect checks to people and families in need.

“This is a terrific time to shop at your local farmers’ market and enjoy all they have to offer," said Richard Ball, commissioner of the state Department of Agriculture and Markets.  "Despite the cold weather, New York farmers have plenty of fresh produce and high-quality products available during the winter. Our FreshConnect Checks also provide an added benefit for those in need and I encourage additional markets to join the program this season.”

There are more than 150 farmers’ markets, farm stands and mobile markets across the state that are open now, with additional markets set to open later this month and one scheduled to re-open Feb. 1.  

The markets operate on varying days and times throughout the week and weekend to fit a variety of schedules. They provide consumers with a wide selection of fresh vegetables and value-added goods such as craft beverages, all-natural skin care products, wool products, maple syrup and honey. 

Fourteen winter farmers’ markets are also participating in the FreshConnect program and additional markets have the option to join the program at any time. These markets issue FreshConnect Checks, which provide a $2 incentive for every $5 in SNAP benefits spent, increasing the purchasing power of SNAP recipients by 40 percent. 

For the first time last year, low-income families had the opportunity to use these checks 12 months a year. Previously, the checks were only available at participating markets during the spring and summer. Although the checks are issued at select markets, they may be redeemed at any of the more than 150 markets currently open, or the more than 750 farmers’ markets and farm stands open throughout the year.

Find a complete list of farmers’ markets, farm stands and mobile markets across New York statehttps://data.ny.gov/Economic-Development/Farmers-Markets-in-New-York-State/qq4h-8p86 at this link. Check their operating months to find those open during the winter.

The following winter markets are participating in the FreshConnect Checks Program: 

Capital Region

Empire State Plaza Farmers Market (Albany County)

Saratoga Farmers Market (Saratoga County)

Schenectady Greenmarket (Schenectady County)

Veggie Mobiles Markets (Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady Counties)

Central New York

CNY Regional Market (Onondaga County)

Syracuse Farm Fresh Mobile Market (Onondaga County)

Finger Lakes

Brighton Farmers Market (Monroe County)

Rochester Public Market (Monroe County)

Mid-Hudson

Beacon Farmers Market (Dutchess County)

Cold Spring Farmers Market (Putnam County)

Kingston Winter Farmers Market (Ulster County)

Rhinebeck Farmers Market (Dutchess County)

Mohawk Valley

Oneida County Public Market (Oneida County)

Southern Tier

Broome County Regional Market (Broome County)

FreshConnect Checks Can Be Used at Winter Farmers' Markets

Consumers are being reminded that FreshConnect Checks are being accepted at participating winter farmers' markets for the first time.

The program, which increases the purchasing power of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits used at farmers' markets, was extended yearround and now provides low-income families the chance to use the checks 12 months a year.

Twelve winter markets are participating in the FreshConnect program, with more expected to join in coming weeks.

**   Ithaca Farmers’ Market (Tompkins County)

**  Otsiningo Farmers’ Market  (Broome County)

**  Kingston Farmers’ Market (Ulster County) 

**  Schenectady Greenmarket (Schenectady County)

**  Veggie Mobile (Capital Region)

**  SUNY Plaza Farmers’ Market (Albany County)

**  Empire Plaza (Albany County)

**  Oneida County Public Market (Oneida County)

**  Foodlink  (Monroe County)

**  Rochester Public Market (Monroe County)

**  South Wedge Farmers’ Market (Monroe County)

**  Brighton Farmers’ Market  (Monroe County)

More than 150,000 checks already have been issued to 180 sites across the state to help eligible New Yorkers access healthy foods, including fruits and vegetables, during the 2015 traditional farmers' market season.

Additional checks will be issued through the winter so even more consumers can be reached..

The FreshConnect Checks program encourages recipients to use their SNAP benefits at participating farmers' markets. The checks provide $2 incentives for every $5 in SNAP benefits spent, increasing the purchasing power of SNAP consumers by 40 percent.

In 2014, more than $3.2 million in SNAP sales occurred at farmers' markets throughout the state.

The FreshConnect Program was launched by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2011 and is administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.  FreshConnect-funded projects aim to ensure that all New Yorkers, regardless of income, have access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

Grants Available to Help Farmers' Markets Accept SNAP Payments

From the USDA:

Up to $3.3 million in competitive funding is available to support the ability of farmers' markets to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

These grants will help expand SNAP  participants' access to fresh fruits and vegetables and other nutritious foods found at farmers' markets, while supporting the nation's farmers and producers.

Applications to apply for the grants are due June 18. Grant funds will be awarded in September. For further information about the grant application, visit www.grants.gov.

"We have seen an unprecedented growth in the number of farmers' markets accepting SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards in the past six years," said Kevin Concannon, Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Under Secretary of Agriculture. 

"These awards support the markets that may need administrative help in implementing and managing EBT service and informing customers that they can use their SNAP benefits at farmers markets," he said.

He also said there are more than 6,200 farmers' markets and direct marketing farmers authorized to accept SNAP nationwide – an eightfold increase since the beginning of this administration. In fiscal year 2014, about $18.7 million in SNAP benefits were used at farmers' markets, an increase of 7.5 percent over 2013. 

The Farmers Market SNAP Support Grants will range from $15,000 to $250,000 and must be designed to increase SNAP client accessibility and participation at farmers' markets, and support the establishment, expansion, and promotion of SNAP EBT services at farmers markets.

State Offering Request for Proposals for Farm Market Initiative

The state of New York today announced a $130,000 Request for Proposal for the “FreshConnect” Farmers’ Market program, which assists New York farmers by promoting the sale of locally-grown food products. 

The program, in its fourth year, focuses on bringing fresh farm products to nutritionally-underserved communities and improving nutrition education statewide.

This year, the $130,000 Request for Proposal will focus on supporting at least 13 traditional farmers’ market and youth market grant projects across the state. Under this initiative, new and existing farmers' markets, municipalities and nonprofits may apply for up to $10,000, and those with the best ideas on how to improve access to farmers' markets participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be awarded funding. 

In addition, $200,000 in "FreshConnect Checks" will be released this year to serve low-income families across the state, including, for the first time, $50,000 directed to veterans of all ages. Checks will be begin being distributed through veterans facilities this summer, based on proximity to eligible farmers' markets.

The “FreshConnect Checks” program encourages the use of SNAP benefits at participating farmers’ markets by providing $2 incentive coupons for every $5 in SNAP benefits. 

In 2013, over $3.2 million in SNAP sales occurred at farmers' markets throughout the state. In addition to SNAP, FreshConnect-funded projects aim to ensure that all New Yorkers, regardless of income, have access to fresh fruits and vegetables and are encouraged to accept other nutrition incentives, such as Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Fruit & Vegetable Checks, Farmers' Market Nutrition Program checks, and Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition checks.

New York Works to Help Those Losing Some SNAP Benefits

From the governor's office:

New York state is taking steps to preserve nearly $457 million a year in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that would otherwise be cut by the recently enacted federal Farm Bill. 

The bill was slated to cut SNAP benefits an average of $127 per month for affected households in New York, including those that live in government subsidized housing or in certain congregate care settings. This action by the state will save benefits for nearly 300,000 households in New York.

New York state, through the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, will dedicate about $6 million in additional federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding to maintain SNAP benefit levels for affected households. 

The funding will be used to increase the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefit of SNAP recipients in certain living situations for whom heat is included in the rent. By receiving the higher HEAP benefit, these households will remain eligible for the highest SNAP allowance for their energy costs, which enables them to continue receiving SNAP benefits at the level for which they are currently eligible.

Farm Bill News from Wednesday May 22

Go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/senate-rejects-bid-to-turn-food-stamp-program-over-to-states-cut-spending/2013/05/22/90d46aac-c2ff-11e2-9642-a56177f1cdf7_story.html to read this story from the Washington Post.