title: Increasing supplemental nutrition assistance program/electronic benefits transfer sales at farmers' markets with vendor-operated wireless point-of-sale terminals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly Food Stamp Program) participants can use their benefits at many farmers' markets. However, most markets have only one market-operated wireless point-of-sale (POS) card swipe terminal for electronic benefits transfer (EBT) transactions. It is not known whether providing each farmer/vendor with individual wireless POS terminals and subsidizing EBT fees will increase SNAP/EBT purchases at farmers' markets.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of multiple vendor-operated wireless POS terminals (vs a single market-operated terminal) on use of SNAP benefits at an urban farmers' market.
  
  
  METHODS
  Time-series analyses of SNAP/EBT sales.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Clark Park farmers' market in West Philadelphia, PA, which accounts for one quarter of all SNAP/EBT sales at farmers' markets in Pennsylvania.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vendors were provided with individual wireless POS terminals for 9 months (June 2008-February 2009.) The pilot program covered all equipment and wireless service costs and transaction fees associated with SNAP/EBT, credit, and debit sales.
  
  
  METHODS
  Monthly SNAP/EBT sales at the Clark Park farmers' market.
  
  
  METHODS
  SNAP/EBT sales data were collected for 48 months (January 2007-December 2010). Time-series regression analysis was used to estimate the effect of the intervention period (June 2008-February 2009) on SNAP/EBT sales, controlling for seasonal effects and total SNAP benefits issued in Philadelphia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention was associated with a 38% increase in monthly SNAP/EBT sales. Effects were greatest during the busy fall market seasons. SNAP/EBT sales did not remain significantly higher after the intervention period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Providing individual wireless POS terminals to farmers' market vendors leads to increased sales. However, market vendors indicated that subsidies for equipment costs and fees would be needed to break even. Currently, SNAP provides some support for these services for supermarket and other SNAP retailers with landline access, but not for farmers' markets.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, 418 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. abutt@nursing.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Alison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Buttenheim
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Havassy
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Glyn
authors.forename: Allison E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Karpyn
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004045:Dietary Services / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D001330:Electronic Data Processing / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation; D005249:Fees and Charges; D005523:Food Supply / Q000191:economics; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D015143:Philadelphia; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012621:Seasons; D014505:Urban Population; D059015:Wireless Technology / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation