Strengthen Your Market With SNAP
RESOURCES & INFORMATION FOR FARMERS MARKET MANAGERS
Accepting SNAP at Your Market is a Win for Everyone
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For the Market
SNAP widens your customer base, which means more shoppers at your market, more sales for your vendors, and increased market viability.
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For the Vendors
With an expanded customer base that has money to spend, vendors will have stronger sales, more financial stability, and be more likely to return to market each season.
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For the Community
SNAP combined with incentive programs make local, nutritious food more accessible, boost community health, and strengthen the local economy.
Assessing Your Market’s Readiness for SNAP
New markets often push to get authorized to accept SNAP right away, but we recommend completing the following steps prior to getting SNAP-authorized:
Lock down anchor vendors (i.e. vegetable and livestock farmers)
Limit the number of craft vendors
Grow your customer base
Develop a strong marketing plan
Build community partnerships
All of these steps build a viable, sustainable farmers market, which is necessary before getting set up for SNAP. Running a SNAP terminal isn’t complicated, but it does divert some energy away from general market operations so make sure you have a strong foundation to build upon.
We’re happy to discuss your market’s SNAP-readiness, help you get SNAP equipment, and to provide recommendations to move you in the right direction.
Making Your Market SNAP-Friendly
Having SNAP at your market is the first step, but how do you make it easier for the customers? Follow these tips below to optimize your market for SNAP-users:
DISPLAY BANNERS & SIGNS PROMINENTLY
Take advantage of available banners and signs to promote SNAP at market. Place them in strategic locations where they are more likely to be viewed by shoppers. Talk a walk around the market to ensure vendors are displaying the appropriate signage at their booths.
USE EASY & CLEAR LANGUAGE
Always remember that you are more familiar with SNAP than many SNAP-users, so speak in their language!
REMIND CUSTOMERS OF ADDED BENEFITS
Many SNAP shoppers are already at market, but might not know all of the benefits of SNAP incentive programs. Additionally, your customers will be changing all the time! Through signage at market, social media, your email list, and any other way you communicate with shoppers, make sure SNAP benefits are crystal clear.
TRAIN YOUR STAFF & VOLUNTEERS
Everyone working or volunteering at the market should be prepared to answer questions about using SNAP at the market, and be familiar with how SNAP incentive programs work. Hold regular training sessions to keep everyone up to speed, or try having a quick meeting before the start of each market.
INFORM YOUR VENDORS
Make sure vendors and their staff know which tokens to accept, and how to exchange them. They should be able to answer basic questions, but also know to direct shoppers to the market information booth if they have questions.
ALWAYS BE READY TO EDUCATE
Be prepared to answer basic questions about SNAP; having an elevator pitch prepared that provides an overview of the program and its incentives is a great tool to have on-hand.
Resources for Farmers Market Managers
LOGISTICS
Equipment, Media Resources, Fee Reimbursements, & More
Find resources from the Farmers Market Federation of New York.
MARKETING MATERIALS & INFORMATION
Get Marketing Support
A new program is coming soon to provide marketing support to promote SNAP at farmers markets. Please sign up below to receive more information.
Marketing the Market
Use this brochure for tips and strategies on promoting SNAP at your market.
Promotional Poster
Download and customize this free poster in English and/or Spanish to display at your market.
Just Starting Your Market?
There is plenty of information on Nutrition Incentive Programs at New York’s Department of Agriculture and Markets.
