You don’t need greenbacks to buy green beans—or any produce—at the Rutherford County Farmers’ Market.
The Rutherford County Farmers Market in Murfreesboro , which is operated and managed by UT/TSU Extension, now accepts credit cards, debit cards and Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) payments . EBT payments include Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps.
The streamlined payment program was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers’ Market Promotion Program and a new partnership with Middle Tennessee State University’s School of Agribusiness/Agriscience. With the swipe of a card, it’s easier than ever for consumers to benefit from all of the fresh, local produce available at the market.
Dubbed the Grow Healthy Rutherford Initiative, this collaboration encourages healthy eating and purchasing locally produced food directly from farmers. In addition to allowing the market to accept a variety of payment forms, Grow Healthy Rutherford includes a broad promotional campaign, cooking demonstrations at the market, education for farmers and consumers, and a study of the impact of these efforts by MTSU students and staff.
The Rutherford market plans to celebrate the new programs and opportunities on Friday, June 15, at 9:00 a.m.
Pamela Bartholomew, Tennessee Department of Agriculture farm market and agritourism coordinator for the, encourages the public to “come out to the market to see these programs in action and experience the new technology. You will also get to meet local farmers and the Rutherford Farmers’ Market Manager, Janie Becker.”
For more information about the June 15 event, contact Becker at 615-898-7710.
To find local farmers markets all across Tennessee, visit TDA Market Development at www.PickTnProducts.org or call 615-837-5160. Contact Bartholomew at Pamela.Bartholomew@tn.gov for more information about farmers market programs across the state.
Visit www.PickTnProducts.org for statewide directories to farmers markets, seasonal farm product recipes, orchards and pick-your-own farms, retail stores where local products are sold, and showcases for products and activities as they come into season. Fans of local foods and farm-related fun can also find Pick Tennessee Products on Facebook and Twitter.
