LIHU‘E — Electronic Benefits Transfer for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients will have more places to use their benefits starting this week. The announcement by the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank EBT program said the use of EBT cards at the
LIHU‘E — Electronic Benefits Transfer for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients will have more places to use their benefits starting this week.
The announcement by the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank EBT program said the use of EBT cards at the Hanapepe sunshine market will start Thursday and the use of EBT cards at the Monday Market at Kukui Grove Center will start June 18 at its location in the Kmart parking lot, said Sasha Figueira, the EBT Market Manager and Account Clerk at KIFB.
The two new locations join the current four locations accepting EBT tokens, including the Koloa Sunshine Markets on Mondays from noon until 2 p.m. at Anne Knudsen Park, the Kapa‘a Sunshine Markets on Wednesdays at Kapa‘a New Town Park from 3 to 5 p.m., the Lihu‘e Sunshine Markets on Fridays at the Vidinha Stadium parking lot from 3 to 5 p.m. and the Kaua‘i Community Market on Saturdays at Kaua‘i Community College from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Figueira said in addition to the six locations, two roadside vendors accept EBT tokens. However, she said, tokens must be purchased at one of the market locations during market hours, or at the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank, which will be open for EBT sales Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The roadside vendors include Kaua‘i Plantation Quail, with EBT purchases available at the Kapa‘a sunshine market. Kaua‘i Plantation Quail offers fresh and pickled quail eggs from a tent in the parking lot fronting Esaki’s Produce.
Daytan Nagao offers fresh fish in Hanama‘ulu and other locations when available, and shoppers can call 482-4123 to find out what is available.
In addition to the expanded locations for EBT tokens, the current 2-for-1 matching program, with funds approved by the Kaua‘i County Council, will be continued and its daily matching limit increased to $10 daily.
Under this program, when a customer purchases EBT tokens at participating farmers markets, they will also receive a $1 coupon for each dollar spent up to $10 per day at each market.
Figueira said this 2-for-1 matching program will continue while the funding lasts. It is not a permanent program.
The EBT Farmers Market program started Sept. 30, 2011 and allowed SNAP recipients to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, bread, meat, eggs, and other food items from market vendors at selected markets on Kaua‘i.
The program has increased revenues for local growers by more than $36,000 since it started, Figueira said.
“The benefits this program provides affects our local economy in a tremendous way,” Figueira said. “Local growers benefit from an increased market of EBT holders and a new supply of customers to purchase their products.”
When growers expand their operations, secondary businesses also benefit from the increase in sales and revenues, resulting in increasing tax dollars from the purchase of additional farming supplies, equipment and related services.
SNAP clients benefit from the increased access to affordable, locally-grown produce and other products to help feed their families and improve their wellbeing.
Funding for the continuation of the EBT program comes from grants from the County of Kaua‘i and the Communities Putting Prevention to Work’s Get Fit Kaua‘i.
For more information about the EBT Farmers Market program, or to become an authorized EBT vendor, call Figueira at 246-3809, ext. 100, or email sfigueira@kauaifoodbank.org.
