MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -
Middle Tennessee State University and the Rutherford County Farmers Market have partnered together to help give low and fixed income families the ability to buy fresh vegetables.
Customers at the Rutherford County Farmers Market can now use debit, credit and EBT cards by purchasing wood tokens which are then accepted in lieu of cash by farmers selling their products.
"We started looking into this two years ago, started looking into how we could work out all the many issues with accepting EBT and credit and debit for the whole market," said Janie Becker, Rutherford County Farmers Market Manager.
"You just swipe your card, buy tokens and pick up food with it," explained MTSU professor Justin Gardner. "One of the big aspects of this is including the EBT cards because without a system like this in place, an individual who is on a supplemental nutritional assistance program doesn't have the ability to buy food directly from the farmer."
Catherine Simmons of Flying S Farms in Woodbury said she believes the program is very beneficial.
"It is introducing people who have the need of the food stamps or the EBT to get farm fresh produce at a very good rate," she said.
The Rutherford County Farmers Market, which is located on John R. Rice Boulevard, near Cason Lane, is open each Tuesday and Friday from 7 a.m. until Noon.
Click here for more information on the Rutherford County Farmers Market.
