Farmers Markets EBT Vendor

The following items can be purchased with an EBT card:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Meat, fish, eggs and dairy products
• Honey and maple products
• Jams, jellies, pickles and sauces
• Baked goods
• Seeds and plants that produce food

The following items cannot be purchased with an EBT card:

• Food items intended for immediate consumption at the market, such as coffee or prepared hot foods.
• Non-food items, such as crafts, clothes, or flowers.

• Live in Iowa or pay taxes in Iowa.
• Become and maintain status as a USDA-authorized retailer.  For more information on becoming certified by the USDA, click here:  How Do I Apply to Accept Benefits? | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov)
• Complete a bank application to allow transactions to be direct deposited.
• Maintain compliance with the standards issued by the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Standards Council. See www.pcisecuritystandards.org for more information.
• Do not complete transactions for other retailers. You may be removed from the Project, and your EBT retailer authorization may be revoked.
• Use of any EBT card for a transaction in which no goods are received is prohibited and could result in your retail authorization being revoked.
• Only charge EBT-eligible food to an EBT card.
• Allowable items include edible food items, seeds and plants that produce food for the SNAP participant to eat, and baked goods.
• Hot food items intended for immediate consumption at the market, such as hot coffee or prepared hot foods, can’t be purchased with an EBT card.
  • See www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligible-food-items for more information about allowable EBT items.
• Attend a telephone training session. Anyone who will be operating the equipment must attend training.
• Secure, properly store, and protect equipment from damage.
• Display Wireless EBT Project signage at all farmers' markets, roadside stands, or on the farm.  This notifies EBT households that you are an authorized retailer and accept EBT benefits.

To get started in the program, please send an email to farmers@hhs.iowa.gov.

• Make sure your machine is fully charged before your first market.
• Run a test EBT transactions by calling 877-418-7957. Test transactions are imperative to make sure that EBT is functioning on your machine prior to you going to your first market.
• Check your paper supply. Farmers with lower volume of sales should have 1-2 rolls of paper. The farmers with large volume of sales should have 3-5 rolls of paper. If you need additional paper, contact 877-418-7957 or email austinebt@conduent.com.
• Make sure you have your charger cord.
• Have your signs cleaned up and ready to go. If you need additional signage, email farmers@hhs.iowa.gov.
• Remember to store your device indoors. The heat from being in a vehicle or stored outside can damage the device.

• You cannot ring up a sale for another vendor nor can you use an EBT card for any transaction in which goods are not received. These actions are prohibited and could result in your retail authorization being revoked.
• You cannot set a minimum purchase amount on EBT sales.
• Hot foods and hot drinks cannot be purchases with SNAP EBT benefits.
• If you experience technical issues with your PAX point-of-sale machine, call GoEBT at 1-877-418-7957.

As fall temperatures set in, it is time to begin the process of shutting down the wireless machine if you will not be using it for the winter. If you plan to utilize the machine in the winter, just let us know if you wish to leave it on. Look for the reminder email and respond, or if you know the dates you wish to shut down the machine, email them to farmers@hhs.iowa.gov.

It is extremely important to report any changes to the USDA. The USDA authorizes you to accept EBT. If you have a name change or any address change, it needs to be reported so your authorization is up to date. Call 312-353-6609 to report changes. 

It is also important that HHS has your current email address and phone number. If your information changes, please also contact Belinda at 515-491-6325 or farmers@hhs.iowa.gov.

Some of the direct farmers that participate in the Wireless EBT program offer CSA to their clients. The information below only pertains to CSA’s.

• For SNAP EBT payments you may only accept the payment no more than 14 calendar days in advance of product delivery.
• SNAP EBT benefits may not be used to pay any administrative or membership fees associated with operating a CSA.

• If you experience technical issues with your PAX A920 machine, call GoEBT at 1- 877-418-7957.
• For information on what you can sell to EBT customers or if you are authorized to accept EBT, call USDA/FNS at 877-823-4369.
• HHS supplies the paper rolls for your wireless point-of-sale machine. It is imperative that you use the correct thermal paper for the machine, or it could ruin your machine. Do not use any other paper in your wireless machine other than the paper that HHS provides. If you need additional paper rolls, please call Jan Walters at (515) 971-1076.
• If you are new to the program, would like to get started, are leaving the program, or have questions about becoming a qualified farmer, contact Belinda Silvernail at farmers@hhs.iowa.gov or call 515-491-6325.

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