Marketlink Offers SNAP Online Payment Solution for Direct Marketing Farmers

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - June 13, 2023 - PRLog -- The National Association of Farmers Market Nutrition Programs (NAFMNP) now offers Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Online acceptance for direct market farmers (DMFs) through their MarketLink program. The MarketLink team has been working with GrownBy and Worldpay from FIS to develop a secure PIN-based platform that allows direct marketing farmers to accept SNAP transactions online. Access to SNAP online payments is part of NAFMNP's commitment to developing innovative solutions that work for farmers, markets, and Federal Nutrition Programs participants.

The first direct marketing farm authorized to accept SNAP Online is River Queen Greens, a vegetable farm in New Orleans, Louisiana. "Our farm brings sustainably grown food into New Orleans kitchens, and we're excited to offer SNAP Online as a way to increase our diverse community's access to healthy, local produce," says River Queen Greens owner, Annie Moore.

In an ongoing survey conducted since May 2022 to measure interest in the SNAP Online rollout, 49% of completed responses identified as direct-marketing farmers.1 "The high level of interest from direct marketing farmers strengthens our motivation to make the online solution as simple and accessible to farmers as our current SNAP equipment program," stated NAFMNP Executive Director, Phil Blalock. MarketLink has completed testing with the GrownBy platform and is establishing procedures that support SNAP authorized direct marketing farmers with the following services:

● USDA-FNS authorization assistance to become SNAP Online ready;
● Access to the GrownBy eCommerce platform and WorldPay from FIS PIN service at no cost for one year;
● Technical and training support;
● On-going communication, platform maintenance, and security updates.

MarketLink's SNAP Online solution will help small farmers attract new SNAP customers while ensuring an inclusive experience for SNAP beneficiaries. For interested farmers, the first step is to become a SNAP authorized retailer. Then the MarketLink team can guide you through the additional steps to become SNAP Online authorized as well as set up your GrownBy and WorldPay by FIS accounts. Start today by submitting your application at www.marketlink.org/apply.

Check out the full press release here.