Florida Organic Growers
Florida Organic Growers (FOG) offers SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps) recipients the opportunity to use their benefits to purchase food at two farmers markets in Alachua County: the Saturday Alachua County Farmers Market and the Wednesday Union Street Farmers Market. Debit/Credit capabilities are also available.
WHO CAN USE THIS SERVICE?
EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) technology allows those with SNAP benefits (food stamps) to use their EBT cards at the farmers markets to purchase acceptable items.
Those who wish to use debit or credit cards will also be able to use their cards at the market.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The project uses a token system to enable customers with EBT, Debit or Credit Cards to shop at the farmers markets. Here’s how it works:
1. A customer swipes the EBT, Debit or Credit card at the central POS terminal and enters the PIN.
2. The FOG staff enters the amount of tokens requested into the terminal.
3. Once the transaction is approved, the customer is given a transaction receipt and tokens.
4. The customer then uses the tokens at any participating vendor’s stand.
WHEN ARE THE FARMERS MARKETS?
The Union Street Farmers Market runs every Wednesday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm.
The Alachua County Farmers Market is every Saturday from 8:30am to 1:00pm.
WHY SHOULD I SHOP AT THE FARMERS MARKET?
A diet consisting of at least five servings (2 to 3 cups) of fruits and vegetables daily decreases the risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes and certain cancers. Those who consume eight or more servings are 22 percent less likely to die from heart disease than those who consume three or fewer servings a day. Buying from a farmers market means you’re able to purchase food often picked within a couple days of the market date, so its nutritional quality is still high, and it oftentimes hasn’t traveled across the country using valuable fuel resources. It also means your dollar is going back into the local economy, helping the farmers and other business owners in the community.
WHAT ELSE WILL BE OFFERED?
The on-site FOG market booth will be an informational and education hub, with community resources on gardening, nutrition, cooking, community events and opportunities. It will also provide a place where people can learn how to enroll in SNAP.
