Food Access
Information On Current Programs & Assistance:
SNAP
OAON Farmers Market Accepts SNAP.
Farmers and vendors can become authorized to administer their own SNAP program, but the OAON Farmers market uses a centralized POS, which means that you can purchase eligible groceries from any of our vendors.
EBT
Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) is a system that allows customers to use SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits from a government-issued debit card at farmers markets as well as brick-and-mortar stores. The OAON Farmers Market has fought for the black community of North St. Louis to have access to affordable fresh food purchased from black farmers and growers. To ensure this, we have secured the ability of shoppers to purchase food with the SNAP, formally known as food stamps. We also provide vendors with the ability to accept electronic payments.
SFMNP
The Missouri Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) provides benefit vouchers to low-income seniors (60 years of age or older) residing in one of 46 Missouri counties. Eligible seniors receive 10 vouchers ($5 each), totaling $50 annually. Vouchers can be exchanged for eligible foods at a farmers’ market or roadside stand with an authorized farmer. You can find out more about this program here.
WIC
In Missouri, Farmers Markets are not able to accept WIC. The WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) is associated with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, popularly known as WIC. We are working with partner organizations to ensure our vendors will be able to accept WIC at the start of our 2022 Season. With WIC, eligible WIC participants are issued FMNP coupons in addition to their regular WIC benefits. These coupons can be used to buy eligible foods from farmers, farmers’ markets or roadside stands that have been approved by the state agency to accept FMNP coupons.