Our Farmers Market Specialists work with farmers markets across the state to increase the number of markets that accept the Lone Star Card/EBT and increase SNAP sales. Through partnering with community organizations, like Brownsville Wellness Coalition and GROW North Texas, we connect with people who receive SNAP benefits to provide information about their local farmers markets, share nutrition information, and work to alleviate barriers for them to access their farmers market.

SNAP Facts:

(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)

In 2020, Texas gave $6 billion in SNAP payments
Only $188,000 was spent at farmers markets
Texas farmers markets rank 47th in SNAP sales nationwide

Based on these statistics, we have plenty of room to grow when reaching our community of SNAP users and boosting farmers market sales.

How to Use SNAP at Your Farmers Market video series

What is SNAP/Lone Star Card?
Seasonal Produce Guide
Use SNAP at Texas farmers markets
- Dallas Culture Map article
- More food for your buck-It’s Time Texas video

Frequently Asked Questions

Preguntas y respuestas en Español

Frequently asked questions about establishing SNAP access at your farmers markets in Texas. For additional questions, please contact us. We have answered these questions to the best of our ability.

Q: How long does your market need to be established?

A: Your approval does not depend on how long your market has been established. You just need to provide required information.

Q: What qualifies as a Farmers Market?

A: Your market needs to meet USDA’s definition of a Farmers Market: “two or more farm vendors selling agricultural products directly to customers at a common, recurrent physical location.”

Q: Does my market need to be a 501c3 or other NGO?

A: No, you do not need to be a 501c3 or another NGO.

Q: What type of purchases can you make with SNAP at a Farmers Market? Is it just fruits and vegetables?

A: Food to be prepared and/or eaten at home, such as:

Breads and cereals
Fruits and vegetables
Meat, Poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Seeds and plants intended to grow food (but not for growing flowers or feeding birds)
Remember this tip to help you know what you can sell: Hot = No; Cold = Yes.

Q: How long does the FNS application take to complete? What is the window of time to complete the application after beginning the process?

A: It can take 15 minutes to an hour to complete. You have up to 30 days to complete the application after you start the application.

Q: What is the estimated wait time after submitting your FNS application for your market to be approved?

A: Approximate wait time is 2-8 weeks. This estimated time depends on your application. It is why it’s important to check your application status regularly.

Q: Is there an expiration time to accept SNAP after receiving FNS #?

A: No. However, FNS can revoke retailer authorization if a market goes a full calendar year without a SNAP transaction. This does not happen automatically. To be on the safe side, plan to start SNAP transactions within one year after receiving your FNS number.

Q: Do I need to have my history of expenses and revenue or current budget?

A: Only an estimate.

Q: How often do you have to renew the FNS #?

A: Every 3 to 5 years depending on how your market is categorized. You can call the SNAP Retailer Service Center at 1-877-823-4369 to ask about your category.

Q: How do you change the authorized person on the FNS application?

A: Contact the SNAP Retailer Service Center at 1-877-823-4369 for more information.

Q: How long does it take for the FM vendors to be reimbursed from their SNAP sales?

A: Depends on your market, funds and/or how quickly USDA reimburses the market.

Q: How long will USDA take to reimburse the market?

A: 1-5 business days

Q: What training do the SNAP accepting vendors need to accept SNAP?

A: Farmers Market coordinators and vendors are responsible for knowing how SNAP works at your Farmers Market. This USDA link provides guidance for training. You can also reference TXFED.org for helpful courses.

Q: Is there an estimated cost for the market to accept SNAP?

A: The expenses will depend on your market and what works best for you.

Plan to make a one-time expenditure for tokens/scrip that are custom to your market and difficult to replicate. This can be anywhere from $100 to $300.
It is suggested your market appoints a person to SNAP. Consider appointing a consistent volunteer or hiring a part-time employee assigned to SNAP for your market days.
You will need signage. For example, a banner that advertises SNAP at your market. This can cost anywhere from $40-$1,000 depending on how many signs you need, how big they make them and what material they are.
Be prepared to look for funding or cover the cost of EBT equipment. EBT equipment is a one-time cost of about $1,200. (This cost can vary).

Q: How many hours are put into SNAP reimbursements/SNAP-specific bookkeeping?

A: This depends on your market and system that works for YOU. Some Farmers Markets will spend 1-2 hours the same market day to make sure SNAP sales balance out and complete reimbursements after the market day to keep a record.

Preguntas frecuentes (FAQ)

Preguntas frecuentes sobre cómo establecer el acceso a SNAP en los mercados de agricultores de Texas. Algunos enlaces solo están disponibles en inglés, pero hay un representante que puede brindar apoyo en español. Póngase en contacto con FMsupport@TexasLocalFood.org para obtener ayuda o si tiene alguna otra pregunta.

P: ¿Cuánto tiempo necesita estar establecido su mercado?

R: Su aprobación no depende de cuánto tiempo se haya establecido su mercado. Sólo necesita proporcionar la información requerida.

P: ¿Cuál es la estructura requerida para FNS?

R: Su mercado debe cumplir con la definición del USDA de un mercado de agricultores: “dos o más vendedores agrícolas que venden productos agrícolas directamente a los clientes en una ubicación física común y recurrente”.

P: ¿Mi mercado debe ser un 501c3 u otra ONG?

R: No, no es necesario que sea un 501c3 u otra ONG.

P: ¿Qué tipo de compras puede hacer con SNAP en un Farmers Market? ¿Son solo frutas y verduras?

R: Alimentos para preparar y/o comer en casa, tales como:

Panes y cereales
Frutas y vegetales
Carne, pollo y pescado
Productos lácteos
Semillas y plantas destinadas a cultivar alimentos (pero no para cultivar flores o alimentar aves)
Recuerda este consejo para ayudarte a saber lo que puedes vender: Caliente = No; Frío = Sí.

P: ¿Cuál es el tiempo de espera estimado después de enviar su solicitud de FNS para la aprobación del mercado?

R: El tiempo de espera aproximado es de 2 a 8 semanas. Este tiempo estimado depende de su aplicación. Es por eso que es importante verificar el estado de su solicitud regularmente.

P: ¿Hay un tiempo de vencimiento para aceptar SNAP después de recibir FNS #?

R: No. Sin embargo, el FNS puede revocar la autorización del comerciante minorista si un mercado pasa un año calendario completo sin una transacción SNAP. Esto no sucede automáticamente. Para estar seguro, planee comenzar las transacciones SNAP dentro de un año después de recibir su número FNS.

P: ¿Necesito tener mi historial de gastos e ingresos o presupuesto actual?

R: Sólo una estimación.

P: ¿Con qué frecuencia tiene que renovar el FNS #?

R: Cada 3 a 5 años dependiendo de cómo se categorice su mercado. Puede llamar al Centro de servicio para minoristas de SNAP al 1-877-823-4369 para preguntar sobre su categoría.

P: ¿Cómo se cambia la persona autorizada en la solicitud de FNS?

R: Comuníquese con el Centro de servicio para minoristas de SNAP al 1-877-823-4369 para obtener más información.

P: ¿Cuánto tardan los proveedores de FM en recibir el reembolso de sus ventas de SNAP?

R: Depende del mercado, los fondos y/o la rapidez con que el USDA reembolse al mercado.

P: ¿Cuánto tardará el USDA en reembolsar al mercado?

R: 1-5 días de negocio.

P: ¿Qué entrenamiento reciben los proveedores que aceptan SNAP con respecto a la aceptación de SNAP?

R: Los coordinadores y vendedores de Farmers Market son responsables de saber cómo funciona SNAP en su mercado. Este enlace del USDA proporciona orientación sobre entrenamiento. También puede consultar TXFED.org para obtener cursos útiles.

P: ¿Hay un costo estimado para que el mercado acepte SNAP?

R: Los gastos dependen de su mercado y de lo que funcione mejor para usted.

Planifique hacer un gasto único en monedas etc. difíciles de replicar y personalizadas para su mercado. Esto puede oscilar entre $100 y $300.
Si no tiene un voluntario designado para SNAP en su FM, considere contratar a un empleado asignado a SNAP para sus días de mercado. Su salario y horas de trabajo dependen de su mercado.
Necesitará anuncios para su mercado. Por ejemplo, un banner que anuncia SNAP en su mercado. Esto puede costar entre $40 y $1,000 dependiendo de cuántos letreros necesite, qué tan grandes y de qué material son.
Esté preparado para buscar financiamiento o cubrir el costo del equipo EBT. El equipo EBT tiene un costo único de alrededor de $1,200. (Este costo puede variar).

P: ¿Cuántas horas se dedican a los reembolsos de SNAP/contabilidad específica de SNAP?

R: Esto depende de su mercado y del sistema que funcione para USTED. Algunos mercados pasarán de 1 a 2 horas el mismo día de mercado para asegurarse de que las ventas de SNAP se equilibren y completen los reembolsos después del día de mercado y para mantener un registro.

Want to Start Accepting SNAP at Your Farmers Market?

Here is what you need to know and how you can prepare. Learn from your peers through the Accepting SNAP at Your Farmers Market TXFED course for more information.

What is an FNS#?

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) number is an identification number that will allow your market to accept SNAP. Without it, you cannot accept SNAP at your market. Once you apply and get approved you will receive a SNAP permit that will include your own unique 7-digit authorization number.

Things to Have Before Starting the Application

Have banking details ready. If you do not have a bank account make sure to create one.
Gather all the following supporting documents and important information before starting your application. This will save you a lot of time and energy.

Here is a checklist that can help:

Recent tax forms in case you filed taxes for your Farmers Market.
Estimated retail sales. If unknown the USDA recommends calculating $250/vendor multiplied by the number of market days per year.
Bank account (account and routing #)
- Employer Identification Number (EIN)
A designated responsible person: this person will be responsible for signing documents. This person will also be responsible for any legal consequences. It is crucial to find a responsible person.
- driver license
- business license
- Social Security card
- responsible person address or PO Box assigned to the FM
ProTip: Different farmers markets have shared that they resort to using PO Box addresses because it avoids important documents not being accessible in the case that the responsible person changes. Correspondence would be mailed to the designated FM PO Box.

Now it is Time to Start the Application

This application takes ≈15 mins – 1 hour to complete.
If your market chooses to apply for the MarketLink grant to fund your EBT equipment, you can schedule a call with a MarketLink regional representative, who will submit and monitor your FNS application for you.
If you choose to submit your application on your own, start by creating and activating your USDA account.
- Then begin the application process by clicking “Sign In” here.
The application process will guide you step-by-step
Make sure to complete your application within 30 days of starting it to avoid losing your progress. You will have to start the application over again after 30 days.
Once you are done, you should hear back about your application in between 2-8 weeks. This is an approximate time and it varies depending on your application. It is important to make sure to check your application status regularly. FNS may reach out to ask for extra supporting documents.

Planning Ahead and Things to Consider

You may ask yourself “what can I do while I wait after submitting my application?” Here are some things that you can do, consider and/or plan while you wait.

Make sure to consider possible expenses. These depend on your market and what works best for you.
Plan to make a one time expenditure for tokens/scrip that are custom to your market and difficult to replicate. This can be anywhere from $100 to $300.
It is suggested your market appoints a person to SNAP. Consider appointing a consistent volunteer or hiring a part-time employee assigned to SNAP for your market days.
You will need signage. For example, you’ll want a sign at your booth where shoppers come to redeem SNAP to get tokens and signs at entrances and vendors booths. This can cost anywhere from $40-$1,000 depending on how many signs you need, how big they make them, and what material they are.
Be prepared to get funding or cover the cost of EBT equipment. EBT equipment is a one-time cost of about $1,200 plus service fees if they apply. (This cost can vary).
MarketLink is a grant program that can help markets get a free Bluetooth EBT card reader and a free year of TotilPay Go payment processing software.
Consult with board members, vendors, and supporters about transitioning to accept SNAP.
Develop an accounting system for tracking SNAP sales and vendor reimbursements.

You Now Have an FNS #

Make sure you have a system that works for YOU. For example, this includes an accounting system for tracking SNAP sales and vendor reimbursements.
If you have not yet made purchases that you may need, make sure you make those with plenty of time before you begin accepting SNAP at your market.
- For example, if you are using the tokens for SNAP shoppers to use at the market you will need to design and order the tokens.
- Think about what SNAP/EBT signs you want at your market.
Familiarize yourself with your local SNAP shoppers and create a welcoming market. You can take the course How to Create a Welcoming Farmers Market for SNAP Shoppers at TXFED.org to learn more about how to create a welcoming and safe space for SNAP shoppers.
Prepare to start promoting that you accept SNAP. You can include the SNAP logo on your website and signage. Many farmers markets create social media posts about how to use SNAP and that they accept the Lone Star Card at the farmers market.

Get Your EBT Equipment and Software and Set It Up

You will need to get funding or cover the cost of EBT equipment. EBT equipment is a one-time cost of about $1,200. (This cost can vary).
Most common EBT setup used by Farmers Markets is TotilPay Go by Nova Dia group. You can visit the webpage to learn more about their services and options. MarketLink offers a grant for free EBT equipment for one year. You can also Reach out to us to learn about current funding options for your EBT equipment or email TX Health & Human Services directly at EBTRetailerOps@hhsc.state.tx.us.
Once you get your equipment you should set it up and become familiar with it. Explore the options and learn about the equipment you are using.
- For example, the TotilPay Go app has a feature that lets you practice inputting card information to make a transaction. You can practice making a transaction to help you get comfortable with the equipment.
Remember, you have support. If you are having a difficult time with your new equipment make sure to contact your equipment’s technology services to help. You can also contact us if you need assistance locating these services.

Congrats you can now start accepting SNAP at your Farmers Market!

Texas Center for Local Food Wants to Uplift and Support Your Efforts!

At TCLF we have Farmers Market Specialists that can help you with the process of obtaining an FNS # and with each step after. Reach out to us for additional detail and support.
Please reference our FAQ for additional information about this process.

Helpful Links

USDA EBT Resources

USDA SNAP Trafficking Explained

USDA SNAP and Farmers Markets FAQ

USDA SNAP Retailer Training Materials

USDA SNAP Scrip System (Paper Scrip, Tokens, or Receipts)

Farmers Market Legal Toolkit – Applying to Accept SNAP

MarketLink SNAP Equipment Grant and Retailer Application Guides

USDA Support:

SNAP Retailer Service Center at 1-877-823-4369
Email farmersmarket@fns.usda.gov

This material was funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — SNAP.

Nondiscrimination Statement

Este material se desarrolló con fondos proporcionados por el Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP en inglés) del Departamento de Agricultura de los EE.UU. (USDA siglas en inglés).

Declaración de No Discriminación