>> THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION AT FARMERS MARKETS LATELY.
THAT'S BECAUSE PAYMENT PROCESSING OF TWO PROGRAMS THAT
HELP GET FRESH FOOD TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES WAS IN DANGER OF
SHUTTING DOWN.
BUT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION
PROGRAMS HAS STEPPED UP WITH A STOP GAP MEASURE.
I DISCUSSED THE DETAILS WITH ANDRES VILLADA WHO MANAGES THE
HOLYOKE FARMERS MARKET AND MIA CORTUBYNE, DIRECTOR OF THE
COMMUNITY INVOLVED IN SUSTAINING AGRICULTURE.
>> SO THAT ASSOCIATION HAS STEPPED UP TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO
THE GROUP TO CONTINUE ITS OPERATIONS THROUGH THE END OF
AUGUST WHICH PUSHES OUT OUR TIMELINE FOR ANY POTENTIAL
SHUTDOWN THAT COULD HAPPEN OF THE EQUIPMENT AN ADDITIONAL
MONTH.
>> WE'LL SPEND THE NEXT FEW MINUTES, SEVERAL MINUTES TALKING
ABOUT TWO PROGRAMS.
SNAP AND HIP.
SO I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO DEFINE WHAT THOSE PROGRAMS ARE.
LET'S START WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM,
PLEASE.
>> MANY PEOPLE KNOW IT AS WHAT IT USED TO BE CALLED WHICH IS
FOOD STAMPS.
IT'S ADDITIONAL FOOD PROVIDED TO CONSUMERS WHO NEED A LITTLE BIT
OF EXTRA HELP.
THE MAJORITY OF SNAP RECIPIENTS ARE CHILDREN, SENIORS, PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN ALL COMMUNITIES
ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS THAT RECEIVE SNAP BENEFITS.
IT'S ACTUALLY 1 OUT OF 8 OF EVERY MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS.
>> THERE'S ALSO THE HIP PROGRAM WHICH SOUNDS VERY SNAPY.
BUT IT'S THE HEALTHY INCENTIVES PROGRAM, RIGHT?
>> THAT IS A STATEWIDE PROGRAM THAT'S AIMED AT PEOPLE THAT ARE
ALREADY HAVE SNAP.
ESPECIALLY THOSE OF LOWER INCOME TO HAVE A BETTER OPTION FOR
FRESH LOCAL VEGETABLES AND FRUITS.
>> WHICH WE KNOW IS A BIG PROBLEM ESPECIALLY RIGHT HERE IN
SPRINGFIELD WHICH IS CONSIDERED A FOOD DESERT.
IT'S MUCH EASIER TO RUN INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE AND GRAB
SOMETHING THERE BUT NOW WITH FARMERS MARKETS, THAT HELPS
PEOPLE GET ACCESS TO THESE PRODUCTS, RIGHT?
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT WITH THE CHALLENGE THAT WAS ON THE TABLE, THE BENEFITS
OF THE SYSTEM THAT KIND OF PROCESSES THE CARDS, RIGHT, WAS
SET TO END AT THE END OF JULY.
SO WHAT, IN TERMS OF THE MOBILE MARKET PLUS APP, WHY CAN'T THAT
PROGRAM BE REPLACED?
>> THAT'S A REALLY GREAT QUESTION.
SO FIRST, TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM, YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT
THIS PARTICULAR APP, THE MOBILE MARKET PLUS APP IS AN APP
SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR FARMERS MARKETS AND FARM STANDS AND IT'S
MOBILE.
MOST SNAP PROCESSING SYSTEMS, YOU NEED TO PLUG IN SOMEWHERE.
THAT DOESN'T WORK AT A FARMERS MARKET BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE
ELECTRICITY NECESSARILY.
YOU DON'T HAVE A BUILDING THAT YOU CAN PLUG SOMETHING INTO THE
WALL.
YOU NEED TO BE ON THE GO.
>> NEED INTERNET AS WELL.
>> EXACTLY.
>> SO THIS APP IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT FOR FARMERS MARKETS
ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THERE'S LIKE 1700 FARMERS MARKETS BEING AFFECTED BY THIS
POTENTIAL SHUTDOWN.
WHEN IT COMES TO MASSACHUSETTS, THOUGH, WE HAVE A PARTICULAR
PROBLEM.
WE CAN'T JUST FIND ANOTHER WIRELESS OPTION FOR FARMERS TO
PROCESS E.B.T.
OR SNAP BECAUSE WE NEED OUR FARMERS TO BE ABLE
TO PROCESS THIS ADDITIONAL STATE BENEFIT KNOWN AS HIP OR HEALTHY
INCENTIVES PROGRAM.
AS AANDRES SAID, THAT'S THE BENEFIT THAT PROVIDES INSTAND
REBATE WHEN THEY BUY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
>> HELPS THEIR MONEY GO FASTER AND HUGE BENEFIT FOR THE FARMERS
BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALL THIS BUSINESS.
YOU CAN GET THE EXTRA HIP BENEFIT WHEN YOU USE THE E.B.T.
CARD TO BUY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES DIRECTLY FROM LOCAL
FARMS.
IT'S GREAT HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS AND GREAT FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY
BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE E.B.T.
DOLLARS ARE ACTUALLY STAYING RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THAT MOBILE MARKET PLUS SOFTWARE WHICH WAS DESIGNED FOR FARMERS
MARKET HAD HIP COMPATIBILITY BUILT INTO IT.
IN MASSACHUSETTS, OUR FARMERS CAN'T JUST GO OUT AND BUY
ANOTHER WIRELESS SNAP OPTION.
EVEN IF THEY HAD THE CASH TO DO SO.
AND HAVE IT PROCESS HIP.
THERE ISN'T A SOLUTION THAT WORKS.
>> SO IS THERE ONE BEING WORKED ON RIGHT NOW WHILE THIS SORT OF
TEMPORARY EXTENSION IS IN PLACE?
>> YEAH, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE PROBLEM IS VERY LIKE COMPLEX.
>> YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF INTRICACIES.
>> YEAH.
SO FROM WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THE USDA AS WELL AS THE D.T.A.,
THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO FIND A SOLUTION.
WHAT IS THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE?
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS BUT WE DO HOPE IT WILL COME FAST ENOUGH
FOR US AT THE HOLYOKE FARMERS MARKET SO WE CAN GO ALL THE WAY
UNTIL THE END OF THE SEASON WHICH IS IN OCTOBER AS WELL AS
OTHER MARKETS AROUND THE AREA.
>> RIGHT NOW, THE TEMPORARY EXTENSION ENDS AT THE END OF
AUGUST.
BUT AS YOU POINT OUT, FARMERS MARKETS DON'T END AT THE END OF
THE SUMMER.
YOU HAVE ALL THOSE WONDERFUL FALL VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS AND
ALL THOSE THINGS COMING IN.
AND TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE MOBILE ACCESSIBILITY OF THIS,
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE REALLY APPRECIATE ABOUT
FARMERS MARKETS IS THEY POP UP IN THE CENTER OF SPRINGFIELD OR,
YOU KNOW, PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CONGREGATE SO YOU NEED THESE
FARMERS AND LOCAL SALES PEOPLE NEED THAT FLEXIBILITY, RIGHT?
>> YEAH, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE HOLYOKE FARMERS MARKET
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS BEEN TRYING TO DO, GET MORE
PEOPLE INTO THE MARKET AND WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HIP, IT
WAS A MAJOR SUCCESS.
SO MUCH SO THAT OUR SALES WENT UP LAST YEAR AND WE HAD MORE
VENDORS AND WITH PROBLEMS SUCH AS THIS, WITH THE NOVADIA GROUP,
OUR MARKET IS VERY SENSITIVE TO THOSE CHANGES.
AND HAVING THIS PROBLEM CAN AFFECT NOT ONLY THE FARMERS WHO
ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED THE MOST BUT ALSO
OUR MARKET WHICH, YOU KNOW, SMALL BUSINESSES THAT START UP
THEIR OWN BUSINESS THERE ARE BEING AFFECTED WITH LIKE
ATTENDANCE AND STUFF LIKE THAT OF THE FOOT TRAFFIC.
>> BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED ABOUT -- THEY THINK THAT THE
BENEFIT IS ALREADY EXPIRED?
>> YEAH, SOME PEOPLE -- THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION GOING AROUND.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO LET THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE UNTIL
AUGUST 31ST TO USE HIP AND HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE A
SOLUTION AFTER THAT.
>> YEAH.
>> AND IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, AT THE
HOLYOKE FARMERS MARKET THEY DON'T USE THIS SOFTWARE TO
PROCESS SNAP IN THE MARKET.
THEY USE A DIFFERENT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.
AND MANY OF OUR FARMERS MARKETS DO AS WELL.
SO THEY WON'T BE AFFECTED AS TO SNAP PROCESSING.
YOU'LL STILL BE ABLE TO USE SNAP AT FARMERS MARKET.
IS A FARMERS MARKET DOESN'T CURRENTLY HAVE A SNAP OPTION,
THEY'LL FIND A BACKUP AND WE'RE CONFIDENT OF THAT.
THE REAL CONCERN IS THE HIP PROCESSING.
WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THE STATE COULD COME UP WITH A SOLUTION IF
THE USDA DOESN'T FIND A SOLUTION THAT WORKS WITH HIP.
THAT'S YET TO BE SEEN.
>> UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE USE THAT ACRONYM.
TO REITERATE, IT SOUNDS LIKE PEOPLE SHOULD JUST USE THE CARD
AS USUAL UNTIL THEY'RE TOLD OTHERWISE.
>> YEAH.
WE'RE TELLING PEOPLE TO COME AND ENJOY THE FARMERS MARKET AND USE
THEIR HIP UNTIL AUGUST 31ST AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE CONFIDENT THERE
WILL BE A SOLUTION.
>> HAVE YOU HEARD FROM FARMERS?
I'VE READ SOME REPORTING THAT THERE MIGHT BE A POSSIBILITY OF
A WORK AROUND FOR SOME FARMERS.
DO YOU KNOW OF ANY FARMERS THAT HAVE FOUND ONE?
OR ARE CONSIDERING ONE YET?
>> THE ONLY OPTION I KNOW FOR FARMERS IS FOR THEM TO BUY NEW
EQUIPMENT.
THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO ACCEPT SNAP BUT WHEN IT COMES TO HIP,
THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY CAN ACCESS IT WAS THROUGH THAT
SOFTWARE.
>> AND IT HAS TO BE DONE ELECTRONICALLY.
THERE'S NO SORT OF PAPER -- NO ANALOG SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.
>> SO THERE IS A PAPER VOUCHER OPTION.
IT IS NOT REALLY FEASIBLE FOR THE VOLUME OF TRANSACTIONS THAT
HAPPEN FOR OUR FARMERS MARKETS IN MOST OF THE REGIONS.
AT A SMALLER FARMERS MARKET, ABSOLUTELY, YOU COULD USE A
PAPER VOUCHER SYSTEM.
EACH ONE HAS TO BE CALLED IN.
IT'S A LENGTHY PROCESS.
WHEN YOU HAVE A LINE OF CUSTOMERS, IT'S NOT SUPER
FEASIBLE.
I KNOW FARMERS ARE BRAINSTORMING SOLUTIONS AS MUCH AS THE STATE
IS WORKING ON SOLUTIONS.
PEOPLE ARE GETTING CREATIVE TRYING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT CAN
BE DONE.
>> GREAT.
WE'LL HOPE THAT A SOLUTION, PERMANENT SOLUTION DOES COME
FORWARD.
BUT UNTIL THAT POINT IN TIME, KEEP USING YOUR BENEFITS AS YOU
ALWAYS HAVE, RIGHT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YOU CAN FIND A LIST IN ALL THE DIFFERENT PLACES IN THE PIONEER
VALLEY WHERE HIP IS ACTIVE.
THE FARM NAME, THE FARMERS MARKET, IT'S FARM STANDS,
FARMERS MARKETS, C.S.A.s AND MOBILE FARMERS MARKETS ON THE
HIP Facebook PAGE.
HIP PIONEER VALLEY AND THAT LIST IS UPDATED WEEKLY.
IF A PLACE CLOSES FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THAT WILL BE ON THERE.
ALL THE INFORMATION IS THERE.