At the direction of President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced this week a plan to ensure that low-income families in Rutherford County and throughout the country have access to the nutrition they need. The plan provides full benefits for participants in USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for the month of February.
When USDA's funding expired on December 21, 2018, SNAP benefits for January were fully funded. States have already received that money and have been distributing it to participants. Since the lapse in appropriations, USDA has been reviewing options available to the department for funding February benefits without an additional appropriation from Congress.
You can use SNAP benefits at stores throughout the county and also at the local Farmers Market on John R. Rice Boulevard.
During operational times, the Lane Agri Park Farmers Market accepts EBT payments! In July and August, many of the farmers also accept WIC Farmers' Market Vouchers. The Rutherford county Farmers'
Market vendors hail from over 20 Middle TN counties and sell a wide variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, baked and canned goods, flowers, plants and more!
To protect SNAP participants' access for February, USDA is working with states to issue February benefits earlier than usual. USDA will rely on a provision of the just-expired Continuing Resolution (CR), which provides an appropriation for programs like SNAP and child Nutrition to incur obligations for program operations within 30 days of the CR's expiration.
