Sustaining Farmers Markets in Low-income, Urban Areas: Farmer Attitudes Regarding Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Programs

Sustaining farmers markets in low-income areas is challenging nationwide.  Since long-term farmer participation is often influenced by profitability, market managers in low-income areas strive to expand their customer base, and thus sales, by accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (formerly food stamps) in the form of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT).  Enhancing sales with EBT has the potential to increase farm profitability and thus farmer commitment to markets; yet little is known about why farmers choose to participate in EBT programs or what the range of farmer experience has been with EBT redemption systems.  The goal of this research was to discover farmers’ perspectives regarding on-site EBT redemption programs.  A detailed, qualitative approach was used to understand the knowledge, experience and perceptions of farmers who did and did not use EBT at their farmers market.  Twenty-three in-depth interviews were conducted with farmers selling at six Michigan farmers markets located in low-income, urban areas.  Farmers identified the challenges encountered in selling at farmers markets in low-income areas as well as their reasons for participating or not participating in the EBT program.  Results indicate that farmers are not only willing to participate in EBT programs organized and managed by the farmers market, but participation also increases their awareness and knowledge of food assistance programs.