Tuesday, September 29, 2009

21st Century Farmers Market Brings Electronic Payment Options for Consumers

The Lincoln County Farmers Market in Downtown Lincolnton is moving into the 21st Century - the 21st Century Farmers Market Program that is. Beginning Saturday, October 3, 2009, the downtown market will accept EBT, debit and credit cards to purchase local farm products.

A partnership between NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services and Leaflight Inc., a Chapel Hill non-profit agency promoting community development, is making this possible. NC Cooperative Extension is the local partner that submitted the successful application on behalf of the Lincolnton market location. The Lincoln County Farmers Market - Downtown Lincolnton location was among twelve markets chosen across the state to implement this new program.

"Because of this partnership, it will be easy and convenient for customers and farmers to use electronic payments," said Extension agent Leigh Guth. "So many people don't carry cash - electronic payment should be a win-win for customers and farmers."

To use electronic payment, customers will swipe their cards at a central terminal operated by the market manager and purchase market tokens worth $5.00. The $5 tokens will work like cash with any vendor accepting tokens. Customers can purchase vegetables, plants, art, meat or bakery goods and will receive change from purchases. Customers using EBT cards (which replaced food stamps in 2002) will receive tokens worth $1.00 each and can use their tokens to purchase food and plants that produce food. Customers cannot receive change from EBT tokens. Participating farmers include Wanda Avery, Loyd Lewis, Mary Deal and Art Duckworth.

The statewide goal is to make fresh local produce at farmers markets accessible to customers using EBT cards. Leaflight provides the market with a wireless card processing terminal, bookkeeping and accounting services for the electronic purchases. By using one processing terminal and tokens, fees are kept at a minimum for farmers and new customers are able to shop at the farmers market.

For more information, contact Leigh Guth, North Carolina Cooperative Extension family and consumer sciences agent, at (704) 736-8462.

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