The F.R.E.S.H. Project - Fresh Project Shawano, Wisconsin

Food - Resources - Education - Sustainability - Health - serving Shawano County, the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, and Ho-Chunk Nation in Wisconsin

EBT/WIC/FMNP

What does EBT mean?

Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) is an electronic system that allows a FoodShare recipient to authorize the transfer of their government benefits from a Federal account to a retailer account to pay for food.

In order to create a healthy food environment all residents should have access to fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets. Thanks to funds from our generous donors, and collaboration with UW-Extension, WIC and many more, an infrastructure to accept FoodShare benefits through the use of an EBT machine is in place at the Shawano Farmers Market.

Do you receive FoodShare benefits or are you a vendor who sells at a farmers’ market? If so, here are some helpful resources on how customers can use their Wisconsin Quest Card to receive tokens to purchase local goods from local farmers.

For Vendors – Why accept EBT cards? Find out here.

For EBT/Foodshare Users – How does the EBT program work? Find out here.

What is WIC?

The Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) provides food and nutrition information to help keep pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants and children under five years of age healthy and strong. For more information on the Shawano County WIC program, click here.

For WIC Users – How does the Farmers Market program work? Find out here.

What is the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program?

Senior FMNP offers eligible low-income seniors the opportunity to purchase fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs from certified farmers. The goals of the Senior FMNP are:

  • To provide fresh, nutritious, unprepared fruits, vegetables and herbs from farmers’ markets and roadside stands to low income seniors, and
  • To increase the consumption of agricultural commodities by expanding or aiding in the expansion of farmers’ markets and roadside stands.


Who is Eligible? (All three are required)

  • Shawano County Resident
  • Age 60 or above, or Native American age 55 years or above
  • Has a monthly household income of $1926 or less for one person or $2607 for two people (which would be 185 percent of the federal poverty guideline).

How Does the Program Work?

Enrolled seniors will receive vouchers worth $25 per household. These vouchers may be used to purchase locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs at approved farmers’ markets or roadside stands. A list of approved markets or
roadside stands will be provided. These vouchers are good until October 31 yearly.


How Do I Get These Vouchers?

Distribution is typically done in early June at sites across the county. Vouchers will also be available at the Wittenberg Senior Center, 715-253-2421, 208 West Vinal St, Wittenberg; the Shawano Civic Center, 715-526-9311, 225 S. Main St, Shawano; and at the Shawano County Aging Unit, 715-526-4686, 607 E. Elizabeth St., Shawano if there are vouchers still available after the first distribution. Please call ahead to check availability. The number of vouchers is limited, so they will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. Applicants may be required to provide proof of age and household income.

How Do I Get Vouchers If I Can’t Come to a Distribution Site? 

If you are homebound, or unable to get to a distribution site due to a disability, you may send a signed statement with
your authorized representative stating this person has been designated to apply for certification on your behalf or request a standard proxy form from the Shawano County Aging Unit. Your representative may be required to provide your proof of age and your income.


How Do I Get More Information?
Contact Shawano County Aging Unit at 715-526-4686 or toll free within Shawano County at 1-866-526-2130 and ask to speak to Heidi Russell.

​For Vendors – Interested in accepting WIC or Senior FMNP vouchers? Find out more information here.

* In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.  Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1)    mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2)     fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3)     email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.