Your Farm Can Now Accept SNAP Online for FREE

6 steps to accept SNAP benefits online — and make your farm food accessible to more people

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) feeds nearly 42 million Americans every month. In collaboration with GrownBy, MarketLink, and the USDA, SNAP Online is now available for direct market farmers!

SNAP is now online, which means it’s easier than ever to apply and accept SNAP benefits on your farm marketplace. GrownBy partnered with the National Association of Farmers Market Nutrition Programs (NAFMNP) to be the first (and currently only) farm app to accept SNAP benefits electronically — for free.

In conjunction with MarketLink, WorldPay by FIS — an EBT processing equipment provider — and the USDA, we’ve revolutionized the process for small farmers to access government aid and make farm fresh food more affordable to more people.

Ready to join the growing number of farmers across America that accept SNAP? We’ll help you get there. Continue reading for a simple breakdown of the application process to make SNAP authorization a snap.

1. Take the 3 minute eligibility assessment

In less than 5 minutes, you can complete the MarketLink Eligibility Assessment to find out if you qualify.

In order to accept SNAP/EBT payments, you must be approved by the Food Nutrition Services (FNS), a branch of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Before applying for SNAP Online, you must first take a 3 minute eligibility assessment to determine if you are eligible for SNAP Online or SNAP Equipment, which includes a POS card reader and a 1-year subscription for the TotilPay Go (previously Mobile Market+) application paid for through the grant.

TAKE THE ASSESSMENT

2. Complete the USDA SNAP Retailer Application in order to receive your FNS number*

*Skip this step if you’re already an authorized SNAP retailer for in-person sales, and start building your GrownBy online marketplace.

Before applying for SNAP Online, you must first be registered as a SNAP Retailer for in-person sales.

An FNS number is a number issued by the USDA; it is an account with the government that shows that your farm can accept SNAP transactions in person.

Even if you don’t plan on accepting SNAP payments in person, direct market farmers must be authorized by FNS (Food Nutrition Services, a branch of the USDA), who will provide a SNAP License with an FNS number.

This permit number is specific to your market, and will be programmed into your market’s point of sale (POS) terminal or app. There is no charge for the SNAP License.

Gather all supporting documents before you start the USDA’s SNAP Application to save time (and frustration).

We recommend gathering all supporting documents before you begin the USDA SNAP Application so that you can upload them all at once, rather than individually, or over a period of time.

Your application will be saved for 30 days* from the date you submit it to upload supporting documents. *After 30 days, FNS will mark your application as incomplete, and you will need to start from the beginning.

For detailed instructions, visit MarketLink’s in-depth guidebook for the SNAP Retailer Application.

River Queen Greens (NOLA) was the first farm authorized to accept SNAP Online on GrownBy. Photo courtesy of @riverqueengreens.

Once your application is officially submitted, it gets sent to the FNS’s Retail Service Center, where they will review your application and documents. Essentially, they are conducting a background check and will assign your account to a field agent.

This process may take up to 8 weeks, so log into your account weekly to periodically check in by visiting the “Check Status Of Previously Submitted Application” tab. There you will find your FNS number. During this process we also recommend keeping an eye on your email, spam folder, and physical mail for any correspondence from FNS.

Need assistance? Book a call with a MarketLink representative.

3. Build your GrownBy storefront.

You can set up your GrownBy shop in 30 minutes! A member of our team will reach out to help you get started.

GrownBy is the first (and currently only!) USDA approved e-commerce solution for SNAP Online for Direct Marketing Farms. You can start selling on GrownBy any time!

While you don’t have to be an active seller on the platform before applying for SNAP Online certification, you do need a GrownBy account before you can accept SNAP Online.

GrownBy is the free, fair, and farmer-owned marketplace that connects farmers with their local community.

Once you have an FNS number, GrownBy staff will reach out to help you set up an online store for free; in just 30 minutes, you can have your online shop up and running. Just remember that you will have to go through a testing process before you’re officially authorized to accept SNAP online.

BUILD YOUR GROWNBY STOREFRONT.

4. Apply to SNAP Online.

Once you have an FNS number and GrownBy account set up, you can now officially apply for SNAP Online!

Once you receive your FNS number, which confirms that your farm is a SNAP Authorized retailer for in-person sales, you’ll be added to a waiting list for SNAP Online certification.

MarketLink will soon ask you to complete a few forms that comprise your farm’s SNAP Online application. You will also have to create an account with FIS/ Worldpay — a third-party EBT payment processor.

5. Test your online storefront.

The GrownBy Team will handle all testing, so you can focus on your farm.

Once your application is received and accepted by USDA, they will notify you that you’re ready for testing.

The GrownBy team will create test products for sale in your online GrownBy shop and the USDA’s Online Purchasing Pilot team will make purchases with live EBT cards to make sure everything is working smoothly.

The GrownBy team manages this testing process for you, so you can sit back and focus on your farm.

6. Go live and tell your community.

The easiest way to reach your community is sharing with your Core Group. You can also announce the news on social media, as an email campaign, and on community boards or farmers’ markets.

Once testing is complete, GrownBy will notify you when you’re officially a SNAP Online retailer. Congratulations!

Be sure to announce that your farm accepts SNAP EBT as a payment method to your community. We recommend you register your farm on Local Harvest, and share the news on social media. You can also create an email campaign, and, if you have one, announce the news to your Core Group, who will be able to spread the word.

Have questions? We have answers.

Our team will ensure that you understand how to use the SNAP Online features on GrownBy and are happy to answer any questions you have about using this new payment method.

Please reach out to our SNAP specialist Mike Parker. You can email him at mike@farmgenerations.coop or schedule a one-on-one call with one of our team members here.

EVENT | CSA Ideas Lab SNAP EBT Workshop

🗓 Tuesday Feb 20th, 2024
🕧 12:30-1:30pm EST
📍 Virtual

GrownBy cofounder Mike Parker will lead a CSA Ideas Lab with Amy Crone from MarketLink and Annie Moore from River Queen Greens.

REGISTER HERE

EVENT | 36th Annual California Small Farm Conference (CAFF)

🗓 Sunday, February 25
🕗 8:00am — 9:15am PST
📍 California & Virtual

GrownBy’s Director of Accounts & Partnerships, Eric Sannerud, and MarketLink Representative Amy Crone will present the basics of the SNAP Online program as it relates to farmers. They’ll walk you through the application process, and answer any questions you may have.

REGISTER HERE

Memorable meals and strong communities begin with GrownBy.

By directly linking growers with customers, GrownBy makes it possible for everyone to eat local. Build your farm shop on the GrownBy Marketplace for free or start shopping at your local farms.

Grow with us at @farmgenerationscoop and @grownbyapp.