$4 million in Funding Released to Help Farmers' Markets Obtain Wireless terminals for SNAP/EBT cards

PRLog (Press Release) - May 11, 2012 - CONTACT:  KIM LYONS
MerchantSource®
Office:  239-985-0776
Toll Free:  800-313-5198
Fax:  239-236-5198                        
Email:  KimL@merchantsource.com
Web site:  http://www.merchantsource.com

FORT MYERS, FL

MerchantSource®(powered by TMS)  today announced its long standing wireless Farmers' Market program offering payment solution to farmers' markets participating in the SNAP program, improving access to fresh produce and healthy food.

The federal government has just released $4 million in funding in the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 to help farmers markets throughout the country access the program.

"We are thrilled that our government leaders recognize the value in farmers' markets having the latest technology to help them be more efficient in meeting their customers' needs," said MerchantSource® President Kim Lyons.  "MerchantSource® is here to help states utilize these newly available federal dollars."

Under the Wireless Farmers' Market program, markets are offered the ability to choose which program best meets their markets' needs - either seasonal or year round.  They also may choose free, rental or purchase wireless terminals at affordable prices, enabling them to accept SNAP, credit, debit and gift cards.  

"Our Wireless Farmers' Market solution enabled the State of Iowa Department of Human Services the ability to expand SNAP access to more than 160 farmers and markets, capitalizing on more than $1 million in SNAP, credit and debit card sales in 2011", Lyons said.  "By teaming up with Total Merchant Services, we can provide complete wireless payment solutions that meet the unique requirements of every individual market."

There are 5,181 farmers markets in the United States which are not currently authorized to accept SNAP benefits.  Lyons said the federal dollars should help boost the number of markets that participate in the SNAP program.

ABOUT MERCHANTSOURCE®
Web site:  http://www.merchantsource.com

Based in Fort Myers, Florida, Merchant Resource Center, LLC, Dba: MerchantSource® has been in business since 1994 as an MBE, WOSB offering a variety of credit, debit, check, gift card and SNAP processing equipment and service solutions.  The company is registered on CCR and D&B.

MerchantSource® currently provides wireless contracted solutions for the State of Iowa (since 2006), Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (2011 awarded), and for hundreds of individual farmers and farmers' markets across the United States.  MerchantSource® provides reports to meet the requirements needed for states to identify POS processing dollars spent on SNAP/credit/debit transactions for each participant in our program.

MerchantSource® provides one-on-one farmers' market account setup, removing the state from any liability for a merchant account, handling all aspects from initial contact, SNAP/FNS app assistance, paperwork, implementation, training and ongoing support for participants in our farmers' market wireless program.  MerchantSource® is an active member of the Farmers' Market Working Group sponsored by the USDA, member of Farmers' Market Coalition and an annual participant in the EBT Next Generation Conferences.


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Photo:
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