August 6, 2018
Mr. Brandon Lipps Acting Deputy Undersecretary, Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services United States Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250
We the undersigned bipartisan mayors are writing to express our deep concern about the potential loss of access to farmers markets across the country for thousands of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients if there is not a long-term solution for Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) processing at markets.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has notified the public that they selected a new contractor in April of 2018 to provide transaction services for farmers markets, and the new contractor elected not to work with Novo Dia Group, a major provider of mobile EBT processing technology and equipment for farmers markets. Novo Dia Group has made it clear that they will discontinue service after they have exhausted short- term operational funding. We are grateful that the New York State and the Farmers Market Federation of New York have reached an agreement with the mobile application vendor, Novo Dia Group, to enable SNAP recipients to continue to use their benefits at farmers' markets across the state through the rest of the farmers' market season, thereby keeping Novo Dia Group’s mobile service operational. However, USDA has not announced the availability of software to enable EBT transactions, and e-WIC under the new contractor after Novo Dia Group terminates its mobile service.
Currently, SNAP recipients can redeem their benefits at more than 7,000 farmers markets across the country, which supports over $22 million in purchases that support the local food economy. In cities, farmers markets are a crucial source of fresh, local, and healthy food for all residents – regardless of their income. Farmers markets improve public space in urban neighborhoods, create market opportunities for local entrepreneurs, and support jobs in cities and in rural areas. Cities around the country have partnered with farmers’ market operators to offer incentive coupons that help SNAP shoppers’ dollars go further at the farmers market. Dollars from SNAP, WIC, and bonus, coupon, and incentive programs are a significant source of revenue for farmers who sell their products directly to consumers. In many cities, the technology that has enabled farmers markets to accept SNAP has made it possible for farmers markets to remain viable. If SNAP is not accepted at farmers markets, some SNAP recipients will stop shopping at farmers markets, resulting in a clear loss of revenue for farmers and loss of access to fresh and healthy food for low-income residents.
Any potential disruption to EBT transactions at farmers markets would have devastating impacts for SNAP recipients’ ability to afford healthy food, as well as farmers’ revenues. We urge the USDA to develop a permanent solution to ensure that EBT service remains available without disruption at farmers markets, regardless of any transition in contractors or improvements in technology. Furthermore, we ask that USDA communicate its plans so that farmers, SNAP recipients, and farmers’ market operators may ensure that all shoppers have access to fresh food throughout the season. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Stephen Benjamin Lydia Mihalik Tom Cochran Mayor of Columbia, SC Mayor of Findlay CEO & Executive Director President Chair U.S. Conference of Mayors Ex-Officio Member Children, Health and Human Food Policy Task Force Services
Paul Soglin Muriel Bowser Bill de Blasio Mayor of Madison, WI Mayor of Washington, DC Mayor of New York City Co-Chair, Co-Chair U.S. Conference of Mayors Food Policy Task Force Food Policy Task Force Member, Food Policy TF
Jacob Frey Jim Gray Catherine Pugh Mayor of Minneapolis, MN Mayor of Lexington, KY Mayor of Baltimore, MD Member, Food Policy TF Member, Food Policy TF Member, Food Policy TF
Jackie Biskupski Luke Bronin John Tecklenburg Mayor of Salt Lake City, UT Mayor of Hartford, CT Mayor of Charleston, SC Member, Food Policy TF Member, Food Policy TF Member, Food Policy TF
Sharon Weston-Broome William Peduto Marty Walsh Mayor of Baton Rouge, LA Mayor of Pittsburgh, PA Mayor of Boston, MA Member, Food Policy TF Member, Food Policy TF Member, Food Policy TF
Steve Adler Mayor of Austin, TX Member, Food Policy TF