Food Access Glossary for Farmers Markets in Washington State

Farmers Market Food Access Glossary (2025)   (downloadable PDF)

Term or Acronym

Meaning for Farmers Markets

AAA

 AAA or “Triple A” stands for Area Agency on Aging. There are 13 AAA in Washington, each covering one or more counties. The AAA works with local partners, such as County Health Departments, Senior Services, Meals on Wheels, Tribes, and food banks, to collect annual applications from seniors and to oversee the distribution of their Senior FMNP benefits.

Basic Food

 

 The Basic Food program in Washington State includes both SNAP and the state-funded Food Assistance Program (FAP). Basic Food provides monthly benefits to families and individuals through an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card called the QUEST card. Benefits can be used to buy certain types of “eligible” food at authorized SNAP retailers, including farmers markets. Basic Food is administered by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).

Benefit

 The money that people receive to buy eligible foods. At farmers markets, benefits are always a cash equivalent. However, no change can be given.

The technical definition is that benefits are “a negotiable financial instrument issued to participants” to buy eligible food from authorized retailers/vendors.

Brick

 This is a nickname for the equipment used to process EBT and credit/debit cards.

Cash Value Benefit (CVB)

Same as WIC CVB or WIC Fruit & Vegetable Benefits

 The Cash Value Benefit or CVB is a benefit in the WIC program that gives all WIC participants money each month to buy fruits and vegetables. This benefit is loaded onto an eWIC electronic debit card. In farmers markets, we recommending referring to these benefits by their more descriptive name, “WIC Fruit and Vegetable Benefits,” with shoppers and farmers.

CDP

 CDP stands for “Custom Data Processing, Inc” and is the back-end payment processor that WA uses in the WIC Direct Vendor Portal.  Vendors with a “CDP Inc. e-WIC Farmer Merchant Agreement” can accept WIC and Senior FMNP and WIC Fruit and Vegetable Benefits and to be paid for their sales via direct deposit.

Central Terminal Model

May also called Central EBT Processing Terminal

 In the vast majority of cases, shoppers cannot use SNAP with individual vendors at the farmers markets. (Most vendors are not set up by FNS as authorized SNAP Retailers.)

Most farmers market use a central terminal model to process SNAP. Shoppers come to the Info Booth where they swipe their SNAP EBT card (and/or credit/debit cards) to get $1 EBT tokens or scrip that can be spent at vendors’ booths on “eligible foods.”

Department of Health (DOH)

 Washington State Department of Health. In terms of food access programs, DOH is responsible for WIC FMNP, WIC Fruit & Vegetable Benefits, some parts of Senior FMNP, and SNAP Market Match.

A different part of DOH oversees the WA State Retail Food Code and works with local health jurisdictions on food safety.

Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)

 Washington State Department of Social and Health Services administers Basic Food (which includes SNAP), SNAP-Ed, and Senior FMNP. This means DSHS is responsible for how people apply for and receive food benefits, as well as tracking redemptions. DSHS also offers free SNAP POS equipment to farmers markets. In addition, DSHS oversees all SNAP-Ed contracts with WSU, DOH, and WSFMA. DSHS is also responsible for managing work with AAAs for Senior FMNP.

e-HIP

Electronics Healthy Incentives Program

 In 2023, Washington was one of three states that received a four-year grant from e-HIP. This grant is funding the “Produce Rewards” pilot at a few farmer markets.

The Electronics Healthy Incentives Program is federally funded through the “Food Supply Chain and Agriculture Pandemic Response” that was part of American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”). It is administered through the USDA.

Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)

Used as shorthand for SNAP, which is the program.

 Electronic Benefits Transfer. EBT refers to the way that public assistance benefits are distributed and redeemed. EBT cards look like a credit or debit card and work in a similar way. “EBT” is often used synonymously with SNAP; however, EBT is the card and SNAP is the benefit. The same EBT card may also be used for other public benefits such as Veterans benefits or the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) which provides limited cash assistance to very low-income families with children. SUN Bucks uses a separate EBT card because it’s a benefit that is only for families with eligible school-aged kids.

Eligible Foods

 Due to policy goals and funding considerations, the benefits for each food access programs (e.g.,  WIC and Senior FMNP, SNAP, SUN Bucks, and SNAP Market Match) can only be spent on certain types of food. These are called “eligible foods” meaning these are the foods that a person is allowed to buy. An overview is below. Also see WSFMA’s “Farmers Market Food Access Currencies.”

§  SNAP and SUN Bucks: Broadest group of eligible foods. Generally “household groceries” which is technically called “staple foods.” In addition staples, it also includes honey; value-added, pantry items e.g., jams, salsa, hummus, pickles, etc.; and certain snacks, pre-packaged beverages.

§  WIC FMNP and Fruit & Vegetable Benefits: Fresh fruits, vegetables, cut herbs, mushrooms.

§  Senior FMNP: Fresh fruits, vegetables, cut herbs, mushrooms, and honey.

§  SNAP Market Match: Fresh fruits, vegetables, cut herbs, mushrooms, plants or seeds that produce food

EMV

Europay Mastercard Visa

 “Europay Mastercard Visa” is the chip card technology that you may have seen in your newer credit cards. This is the new standard in credit/debit card security. For farmers markets that accept credit and/or debit cards, it is important to make sure to use machines/smart phones/tablets that are “EMV Capable” to avoid any liability.

eWIC

 eWIC is the electronic debit card issued to WIC participants. It is loaded with their benefits and used like debit card. eWIC cards are widely used by WIC participants. A QR code was added to the eWIC card in 2024. The QR code is needed to shop at farmers markets with both WIC FMNP and WIC Fruit and Vegetable Benefits. WIC benefits are funded by USDA and administered by WA State Department of Health.

Farmers Market

 In WA State, the definition of a farmers market follows the WSFMA Roots Guidelines. At its core, there are, on average, at least five farmers selling their products, and most of farmers market’s the annual sales are from WA farmers and agricultural products.

For example, in WAC 246-780-010, FMNP defines an “”Authorized farmers’ market” means a farmers’ market authorized by the department that has a minimum of five or more authorized growers who assemble at a defined location for the purpose of selling their produce directly to consumers.”

The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board’s definition of Farmers Market, is consistent with this definition and must be met in order for a farmers market to have wineries or breweries be allowed to sell its products (RCW 66.24.170, RCW 66.24.240, and RCW 66.24.244 subsection 5).

The USDA FNS definition of a Farmers’ Market in the context of a SNAP authorized retail store is far looser, “A single or multi-stall market that sells agricultural products, particularly fresh fruit and vegetables, to the general public at a single or multiple locations. This designation applies to any organization that operates a farmers’ market location” (https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/store-definitions). This definition means that the FNS data on farmers markets includes farm stands and other entities that do not meet the WA definition of farmers markets.

In addition, to become a SNAP authorized retailer, the applicant, including farmers markets, must sell staples foods and meet one of two stocking requirements ( https://goebt.com/requirements-to-accept-ebt-for-snap-benefits-for-retailers/).

Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI)

 FINI, or the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive program, was a USDA grant program that started in 2014 “to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables among low-income consumers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by providing incentives at the point of purchase.” In 2015 the Washington State Department of Health was awarded a four-year FINI grant to expand SNAP incentive programs at farmers markets and other retailers. In the 2018 Farm Bill, FINI was renamed for Gus Schumacher and is now called the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) grant.

Farmers Market Nutrition Program for WIC & Seniors (FMNP)

 

 

 There are two Farmers Market Nutrition Programs (FMNP): the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) FMNP and the Senior FMNP (SFMNP). They are both administered by DOH and are related but have key differences too. Note: FMNP often gets referred to as “WIC” which is not technically correct as WIC is a huge program with dozens of different types of benefits. WIC FMNP is only one of WIC’s many benefit programs.

WIC FMNP was established in 1992 by the USDA “to provide fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits and vegetables through farmers’ markets to WIC participants and to expand awareness, use of, and sales at farmers’ markets.”

In 2001, a sister program was created for low-income seniors called Senior FMNP. Both rely on state and federal funds.

Starting in 2023, the $4.00 paper checks stopped being used for WIC and Senior FMNP. WIC participants and Seniors now use a QR (Quick Response) code to shop at farmers markets.

WIC participants receive $30-$90 per household and Seniors get $80 per season. All FMNP funds must be spent between June 1 and October 31.

USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)

 The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is part of the United States Department of Agriculture and administers 15 food assistance programs, including SNAP (food stamps) and WIC. FNS sets the requirements and eligibility to participate in SNAP. Farmers and farmers markets that want to accept the SNAP must apply to FNS to become an “authored SNAP Retailer.”

FNS Number

 After a retailer’s SNAP Retailer Application is approved as an “authorized SNAP retailer,” you get a permit with number from FNS. Don’t lose it!

Food Access

 Building on the work of anti-hunger and food security advocates, there is an increasing focus on “food access.” Like other programs, food access shares the goals of making sure everyone is able to eat a healthy, culturally appropriate diet regardless of income. The term “food access” shifts the focus away from calories to the complex financial and physical barriers people face when trying to acquire healthy foods for themselves and their families. Farmers markets across the country have been key partners in increasing “food access” for people and communities, helping to make the term synonymous with local, seasonal, and fresh foods. As such, FMNP, SNAP and incentive programs at farmers markets are now framed as “food access” programs.

Food Stamps

 In October 2008, the federal Food Stamp Program was renamed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (see SNAP). In Washington State SNAP is also referred to as “Basic Food.” Regardless of the official terms, “food stamps” is still a common and widely understood term among shoppers, vendors, and others working on the ground.

Formstack

 Formstack is a publicly available online platform. DOH’s SNAP Market Match program has used Formstack to collect market data since 2020. So sometimes “Formstack” and the task of data collection get conflated. In 2025, SNAP Market Match is planning to use a new platform for its data collection.

Fresh Bucks

 “Fresh Bucks” is the name of a SNAP EBT incentive program that started in Seattle in 2012 and at one time was available at over 30 farmers markets around Washington State. In 2020, programs consolidated into a new statewide incentive program called SNAP Market Match. However, the City of Seattle continues to manage a separate Fresh Bucks only for retailers in Seattle. Seattle’s Fresh Bucks program provides “enrolled customers” with a monthly benefits to purchase fruits and vegetables from farmers markets, farm stands, independent grocers, and supermarkets. It is funded by the City of Seattle’s Sweetened Beverage Tax Fund and the General Fund. Note: there are also a few independent, local incentive programs in northwest WA that still use the Fresh Bucks name.

Grower

 Grower is the term FMNP uses for farmers that sell at farmers markets or farm stands (which they call “farm stores”).

Per WAC 246-780-010, “”Authorized grower” means an individual authorized by the department [of Health] who grows a portion of the produce that they sell at a Washington state authorized farmers’ market or authorized farm store.”

One difference is that the term grower may include what the WSFMA considers a Reseller because “portion” is not defined in the WAC.

GusNIP

 The FINI grant program was renamed the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program or “GusNIP” in FY2019. Funded in the Farm Bill and managed by USDA, it is a competitive federal grant program to support projects that increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by providing incentives at the point of purchase among income eligible consumers participating in SNAP. WA’s SNAP Market Match program is funded in part by GusNIP.

Incentive Program

 “Incentive programs” are driven by public health goals and are designed to encourage people, especially SNAP participants, to buy (and consume) more fruits and vegetables. At the farmers market, this means giving shoppers more EBT tokens or a special market currency (like “SNAP Market Match”) when they use their federal nutrition benefits at a farmers market. The extra tokens or currency are usually called a “match.” Typically, how someone can spend the “match” has restrictions; it is usually limited to buying fruits and vegetables.

A farmers market may create its own incentive program or participate in one managed by an outside public or private agency (e.g., “Fresh Bucks” and “SNAP Market Match”). Most incentive programs work with SNAP EBT benefits; however, there are also incentive programs that match FMNP.

Issuance

 Issuance is what the FMNP program calls it when they distribute the WIC or Senior FMNP benefits to individuals or families.

Manual Voucher

 When the EBT system goes down at a farmers markets, you can fill out a manual voucher to accept SNAP offline. You can create your own or buy them from goEBT.com for ~$10 (pack of 25).

MarketLink

 Funded through a USDA grant, MarketLink is nonprofit program that works with individual farms and farmers markets. MarketLink offers an app called Totilpay Go (TPG) to link your device to an EBT card reader that can process SNAP EBT transactions via Bluetooth. Typically, the card reader and first year of the app are paid for by the USDA grant, after that there is a fee. MarketLink also offer helps farmers and farmers markets with the FNS application and authorization.

MarketLink started in 2013 as a program of the National Association of Farmers Market Nutrition Programs (NAFMNP). In 2025 it transitioned to be part of a new nonprofit called the “Farmers Food Assistance Bureau.”

Merchant Service Providers

Third party processors, Payment processors

 Merchant Service Providers are the companies that provide services that you need in order to accept credit cards, debit cards, and other forms of electronic payment. While all merchant service providers process credit and debit cards, only some of them also process SNAP EBT cards. For farmers markets, it is important to use a merchant service provider that understands and has experience working seasonally and outdoors.

Pandemic EBT

or P-EBT

 Pandemic EBT was a temporary program that started during the COVID 19 pandemic to help families and children with lower incomes who were missing meals when schools and childcare closed. There was a separate P-EBT card that was loaded with $120 for each eligible child. This program began in 2020 and ended in 2023 when it was replaced with a very similar, permanent program called SUN Bucks (or Summer EBT). If you get a P-EBT card at the info booth, it is no longer valid. See SUN Bucks.

Point of Sale (POS) Terminal or Device

 At farmers markets, a POS (Point of Sale) device is the electronic equipment that processes sales transactions for customers when they use a EBT, debit, or credit card. The POS device also manages the sales information and receipts. Some POS terminals use a telephone line; more and more, they use a “wireless” technology and can operate where there is cell coverage.

Produce Rewards

 In 2023, the DOH’s Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Program launched a pilot project called “SNAP Produce Rewards” at the Pasco Farmers Market as part of an e-HIP grant. (DOH also has a “SNAP Produce Match” program which has a very similar logo and offers an incentive at participating grocery stores.)

The gist with Produce Rewards is that vendors (with eligible products) would go through FNS to become SNAP-authorized retailers so that they could accept SNAP directly at their booth, by passing the market’s token system. Another key difference is that the “incentive” is loaded back on to the SNAP card only after buying fruits or vegetables. Produce Reward gives SNAP shoppers up to $50 per month back on their EBT card. They can use this money to buy any SNAP foods (not just fruits and vegetables) at any participating retailer, including grocery stores. The pilot added two markets in 2024 and results are being evaluated.

Quest Card

 This Electronic Benefit Transfer card for food assistance and other benefits is called a “Washington EBT Quest card” in Washington State. Each month the Basic Food and other assistance program benefits are electronically added to an account that the card accesses. The card system used by Washington is just like a bank-issued debit card.

Redemption

 This is term that state agencies use when they are talking about the amount of benefits that people actually used. Typically, far more benefits are given to people than are actually used, or redeemed, to shop at a farmers market.

Regional Farmers Market Food Access Directory

 The WSFMA produces a free, annual Regional Farmers Market Food Access Directory that lists all farmers markets that accept either FMNP or SNAP. The directories encompass 9 regions and are available in four languages. Place orders for directories by the end of April.

Scrip

 Scrip is the currency markets give to shoppers so they can spend their SNAP benefits with vendors. The most common scrip are wooden tokens. Typically, EBT scrip is in $1.00 and credit/debit cards are $5.00, $10.00 or $20.00 units.

Senior FMNP Mobile App

 In August 2023, DSHS introduced a new app for seniors so that they could track their balances on their Senior FMNP benefits card. Other than the app, the only way seniors have to track their balance was by calling customer service. The app is free and can be downloaded from Apple App Store and Google Play. DSHS has a flyer about the Senior App available in 14 languages.

SNAP

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

 The “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program” or SNAP is a national program to help nearly 41 million Americans buy food. Formerly called food stamps, SNAP is the country’s largest nutrition assistance program and overseen by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). Congress sets the eligibility requirements that are administered in partnership with states. SNAP benefits are federally funded through the Farm Bill. See Basic Food.

SNAP-Authorized Retailer

 

 A SNAP-authored retailer is any merchant that applies to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service and gets approved to accept SNAP as payment for eligible food items. Authorized retailers can include grocery stores, farmers markets, roadside vendors, delivery services, and cooperatives. Farmers selling basic or “staple” foods such as fruits, vegetables, meat or dairy may be approved as a SNAP retailer too. Since not all merchants or retailers accept SNAP, FNS requires that there is a clear sign saying something equivalent to “EBT Accepted Here.”

SNAP Market Match

 Launched in 2020, SNAP Market Match is a part of the DOH’s Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Program. It is a SNAP matching or incentive program that matches up farmers market shoppers’ SNAP tokens up to a certain dollar amount. In 2025, the “cap” was $25 per day. However, there are a handful of farmers markets that are able to offer a higher cap.

Farmers markets must apply each year (in the fall) and contract with the DOH in order to participate. SNAP Market Match is a special currency in $1.00 increments and can be used to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, herbs and seeds/plants that produce food. The currency expires every year on December 31.

Farmers markets that participate in the SNAP Market Match program are allocated an amount of funding for the season that they are reimbursed for after they spend it. Farmers markets must report data every month in addition to the request reimbursements.

SNAP-Ed

SNAP Nutrition Education

 SNAP-Ed often gets confused with SNAP. (Imagine that!) SNAP-Ed is a distinct program and is the nutrition education branch of the SNAP program. The goal of SNAP is to increase food security and employment; SNAP-Ed’s goal is nutrition education and obesity prevention for SNAP-eligible people. In WA, SNAP-Ed’s goal is “To make it easier for people who are eligible for SNAP/Basic Food to eat healthy and be physically active.”

SNAP-Ed is managed by DSHS and contracts with the Department of Health and Washington State University who collaborate on projects around the state. Local partners in your area that are funded by SNAP-Ed often contribute to farmers markets activities or programs that promote healthy eating for low-income people or communities.

SNAP-Eligible

 People who meet the income and other eligibility requirements to receive SNAP whether or not they are currently receiving SNAP.

Split Tender Transaction

 A split tender transaction is when a shopper pays both with a farmers market currency and another market currency (e.g., cash or credit/debit card). This may happen when the shopper doesn’t have enough money in benefits or when they are buying both eligible and ineligible foods.

Staple Foods

Staple Food Groups

Food Stocking Rule

 “Staple foods” have a special USDA definition in the context of SNAP. They consider staple foods those that are usually in their raw form and usually taken home as ingredients for a meal. Staple foods relate to one of the USDA FNS’s requirements for SNAP-authorized retailers called the “food stocking rules.” To be a SNAP-authorize retailer, either over 50% of gross sales must come from “eligible staple foods” or the retailer must continually sell at least 7 varieties of foods in each of four “staple food groups.” The four USDA FNS staple food groups are 1) meat, poultry, or fish; 2) breads or cereals; 3) vegetables or fruits; and 4) dairy products. Honey is not considered a staple food nor are plants.

State Food Assistance Program

(FAP)

 Managed by DSHS, “FAP” is a Washington State funded food stamp program for legally residing immigrants who are eligible for SNAP but don’t meet the federal residency requirements. Typically, people who receive FAP benefits, or “clients,” have been in the US less than 5 years or have a special US residence status.

Benefits are distributed through the same Quest EBT cards. Many FAP clients are in mixed status households where some receive federal SNAP benefits and some receive state FAP benefits.

Summer EBT

 While Pandemic EBT was temporary, Summer EBT is a permanent, nationwide program established by Congress in late 2022. In Washington, Summer EBT started being called SUN Bucks in 2024.

SUN Bucks

 In 2024, the Summer EBT program was launched nationwide as SUN Bucks. Like Pandemic-EBT, it provides money to buy food during the summer. Families receive $120 for each eligible, school aged child.

SUN Bucks can be used at farmers markets! Shoppers swipe their SUN Bucks card and get EBT tokens to spend on SNAP-eligible foods. SUN Bucks are also matched by SNAP Market Match which can be spent on fruits and vegetables. SUN Bucks is managed by DSHS in partnership with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and local schools.

Tokens

 Tokens, usually wooden, are the most common form of scrip that farmers markets use as a market currency for SNAP or credit/debit cards. The SNAP tokens “must be visually distinct from legal tender and from any other currency used by the market…and must be non-replicable.” Also see “Implement SNAP/EBT” in the online Farmers Market Legal Toolkit.

Totilpay

 Totilpay Go (TPG) is an app that MarketLink offers to farmers markets and direct marketing farmers so that they can use their payment processor to accept SNAP. The app enables their payment processor to connect to a personal device via Bluetooth. Totilpay was developed by a software company called NovoDia.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

 The United States Department of Agriculture is a huge federal entity made up of 29 different agencies that impact nearly every aspect of agriculture and includes the Food and Nutrition Services Agency (or FNS), which manages 15 major federal nutrition programs.

Note the Food and Drug Administration (or FDA) which approves products to be sold commercially is a part of the Department of Health and Human Services, not USDA.

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

 The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children or “WIC” is a federally funded nutrition program that serves pregnant women, breastfeeding women with children under 12 months of age, non-breastfeeding women with children under 6 months of age and infants and children under 5 years of age.

In WA, WIC is managed by the Department of Health which oversees 52 WIC agencies and works with over 200 local WIC clinics in WA.

WIC offers a variety of benefits, most of which are to buy specific “WIC approved foods” (https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/wic/wic-foods).

WIC Clinic

 Local WIC clinics are the local offices where WIC participants go to enroll, get health screening, nutrition education, benefits for nutrient-rich foods, breastfeeding support, and referrals to other health and social services. WIC participants who get WIC FMNP would get it at their local clinic.

WIC Direct Vendor Portal

 The WIC Direct Vendor Portal is a mobile website (not an app) that vendors in WA use to accept WIC or Senior FMNP or WIC Fruit and Vegetable Benefits. When farmers apply to FMNP, they will also have to get set up with in the WIC Direct Vendor Portal.

When a shopper wants to buy an FMNP eligible food, they show their WIC or Senior QR to the vendor. The vendor opens the WIC Direct Vendor Portal on a smart phone, tablet or other device, and uses it to scan the shopper’s QR code (also called “validating”).

Then the shopper’s PIN and price are entered. When the transaction is done, the amount is deducted from the shopper’s benefits and vendors get a direct deposit once a week.

WIC Fruit & Vegetable Benefits

 The “WIC Fruit and Vegetable Benefits” is a WIC benefit that gives all WIC participants money each month to buy fruits and vegetables. The amount varies by funding rules, availability and the number of people in the household. This benefit is loaded onto the eWIC electronic debit card.

When FMNP switched from paper checks to an electronic benefit QR code, it allowed people to use their WIC Fruit and Vegetables Benefits at farmers markets for the first time. They can buy the same eligible foods as WIC FMNP. One key difference is that the WIC Fruit and Vegetable Benefits can be accepted year-round, whereas the FMNP is able to be used from June to October.

Within WIC and DOH staff, the WIC Fruit and Vegetable Benefits is referred to as the “Cash Value Benefit” or CVB.

WICShopper App

 The WICShopper app is a national app used in Washington and available for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play. It is widely used by WIC participants in WA. It has the QR needed at farmers markets and can help people check their WIC benefits balances, including FMNP and Fruit and Vegetable Benefits. It also has nutritional information and lists all farmers markets authorized to accept FMNP.

Additions? Questions? Updates? Edits? Please email or call the WSFMA.

Funded by USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

 

 

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