Tech company comes to the rescue of food stamp benefits at farmers markets
“The use of SNAP took off at farmers markets in 2012, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture set up a free equipment program. Since then, more than 2,500 markets have received card readers, tablets or smartphones to process electronic benefits, known as EBT. But markets still needed software. That’s where Novo Dia and others came in. With their various platforms in place, SNAP benefits redeemed at farmers markets increased by 35 percent, to $22.4 million in 2017, from $16.6 million in 2012, meaning more fresh produce for low-income people in both rural areas and cities.”