Promotional Materials
Once you accept SNAP at your Farmers’ Market and have properly trained the market vendors, you need to reach SNAP customers through both on-site and off-site promotion.
On-site Promotion
To promote your SNAP program, you will need several on-site signs:
- Centrally located POS Machine sign- This is the most important SNAP sign you can have because it indicates where SNAP customers swipe their SNAP/EBT card to receive market currency. It should be displayed at the location of the POS machine. The POS machine should be centrally located at your market. The sign should read something like, “SNAP processed here” or “Use your EBT card here“. Here are two examples: BFM Banner and ES POS sign.
- Vendor Signs- These should be displayed at the tables of all participating vendors, and say something like, “We gladly accept Farmers’ Market EBT tokens”. Here are two examples: Double Your Dollars Accepted Here and Fayetteville Vendor Sign
- Directional Signs- Larger markets may want signs around the periphery of the market directing customers to the centrally located POS machine.
Ten Tips for Making Your Farmers’ Marker SNAP Shopper Friendly
Radio Promotion
Radio is an easy and successful way to reach SNAP participants. Often, public radio stations will air Farmers’ Market PSAs for free. Here are three examples of radio PSA’s which were aired in Northwest Arkansas in 2011 and 2012. Feel free to change and use for your market.
- 15-second Radio PSA 2012: KIDS, ADULTS, SENIORS, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, GOOD NUTRITION IS IMPORTANT. YOUR LOCAL FARMER’S MARKET ACCEPTS “SNAP”, E-B-T BENEFITS, “WIC” AND SENIOR FARMERS’ MARKET COUPONS. THESE PROGRAMS HELP YOU EAT RIGHT WHEN MONEY IS TIGHT. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MARKET LOCATIONS VISIT MARKETSNAP “DOT” U-ARK “DOT” E-D-U, OR CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
- Radio PSA 2012: Kids. Adults. Seniors. No matter who you are, healthy nutrition is important. Your local farmer’s market now accepts SNAP/EBT benefits, WIC, and Senior farmers’ market nutrition coupons. These programs help families eat right when money is tight. Shopping at your farmers’ market is fun, fresh and local. For more information on market locations, visit wordpress.uark.edu/marketsnap or contact your local chamber of commerce. Farmers’ Market double dollars made possible by the Wal-Mart foundation.
- Radio PSA 2011: Northwest Arkansas farmers’ markets are open! Come and enjoy live music, locally made crafts and fresh fruits & vegetables. Now with more convenience for you, we are accepting SNAP/EBT benefits, WIC, and Seniors’ farmers market nutrition coupons. Look for your local farmer’s market in Fayetteville, Springdale, Bentonville, Rogers, Eureka Springs, West Fork, Siloam Springs, Gravette and Huntsville. For more information on market locations, visit www.arkansasgrown.org, or contact your local Chamber of Commerce. Come on down to the farmers’ market, where you can use your SNAP benefits (formerly known as Food Stamps) to buy fresh, healthy foods direct from the farmer!
Printed Promotion
Printed advertisements are another way to reach SNAP participants. Contact your local newspapers, magazines, and other publications for advertising rates. Here is an example of a simple, black and white advertisement that was printed in a publication for Senior Citizens in Northwest Arkansas.
Online Promotion
Use your farmers’ market website or Facebook page to remind customers that you accept SNAP benefits. Check out this example of a promotional web page. It is also helpful to include a link to THIS website from your market page to provide SNAP customers with more detailed information about the program.
Additional Resources
Real Food, Real Choice. Connecting SNAP recipients with Farmers’ Markets. From the Community Food Security Coalition.
Fresh-Exchange-Toolkit From the Portland Farmers’ Market. Contains good info about developing farmers’ market incentive programs.