Maine officials say a new partnership with the state’s farmers markets has expanded the number of people who can use the markets by making food assistance easier to access.
The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry said it has partnered with the Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets to help pay for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program processing equipment. The equipment can cost hundreds of dollars, which prices many small markets out of the ability to buy it.
One out of every eight Maine residents uses SNAP. The state says a half dozen farmers markets have received new SNAP processing gear through the partnership since July.
Maine has a total of about 35 farmers markets that accept SNAP.
