Happy New Year! 2021 was definitely one for the books. We wish you all the best with your goals, plans, and resolutions for 2022! 

Earlier this month we sent out an email to collect information about who is interested in our Online SNAP program. We are excited that so many of you have expressed interests! Hang tight for future updates as we are reviewing responses for the next couple of weeks. For now, please read our latest press release regarding the program.

To summarize, direct marketing farmers will have the option to accept secure, PIN-based online SNAP transactions and grow their SNAP customer base using the MarketLink Online Solution. The NAFMNP MarketLink Program, in partnership with Nova Dia Group, Inc. (NDG) and FIS Worldpay, will develop four eCommerce platforms, beginning with Local Food Marketplace, and then adding Fellow Farmer; GrownBy; and WhatsGood. 

SNAP-authorized direct marketing farmers will receive: 

● Authorization assistance to become online-ready 

● Access to one of the four eCommerce platforms at no cost for one-year 

● Technical and training support from the eCommerce platform team 

● On-going communication as well as platform maintenance and security updates.

From the Land of Kansas 2022 Farmers' Market/Direct-to-Consumer Workshops: Accepting EBT/SNAP & Double Up Food Bucks

February 3, 2022 , 12:00 - 1:00 pm (CST)

Our Regional Representative, Whitney Butler, will be speaking at the From the Land of Kansas workshop in early February about how to accep EBT at your market. Cost to attend any (or all) of the sessions is just $5. The session on Friday will also have in-person watch parties at select K-State Research & Extension locations.

Program Schedule: 

Monday, January 31, 2022, noon to 1 p.m

Kansas Value Added Food Lab, Food Safety for Value-Added Food Products

CISA Making Local Food More Accessible Webinars:

How to Accept SNAP and WIC/Senior Coupons

February 15, 2022 , 1 - 2:30 pm (EST)

If you are located in Massachusetts, join MarketLink for the first session of the CISA (Community Involved in Sustainable Agriculture) webinar series focusing on local good accessibility in MA. Our Regional Representative, Lisa Roach, will be joined by Rebecca Davidson, Program Coordinator for the coupon program from the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture to discuss what it takes to accept SNAP and WIC & Senior coupons at your farm and how being a part of these programs enables you to feed your neighbors and boost your bottom line. Cost to attend is free but only open to those located in Massachusetts.

Webinar Description: Attendees will come away with an understanding of how to set up SNAP at their business, their options for getting SNAP processing equipment, how to accept WIC and Senior coupons, and who to ask for help when they go through these application processes. Attendees will also come away with a step-by-step list of how to accept SNAP and coupons at their business plus a contact list of relevant people they can ask questions along the way.

MarketLink is a program of the 

National Association of Farmers Markets Nutrition Programs (NAFMNP).

©2022 MarketLink