Friday, January 17, 2014

USDA announces MarketLink website!

This week USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced a new website aimed at streamlining the process for markets and farmers to apply for accepting SNAP. This is great news, because the process can be daunting. In my job I have helped a few markets apply for permission from FNS to accept SNAP, and then figure out how to get the best deal on a EBT machine and/or apply to Virginia's Department of Social Services for a free EBT machine. This website seems to help make the process a bit shorter, which is always appreciated. The USDA seems intent on helping markets accept SNAP! They are throwing a lot of support in that direction. I would love to see the need for a Social Security number eliminated from the FNS application, as I have heard from a few markets that that is a sticking point for the manager or whomever is applying for the approval. So, USDA, keep up the good work AND take my advice!