True" Iowa is the recognized world leader in agricultural crop production, with fertile land and innovative farming practices. Iowa farmers feed the world with determination, technology, and hard work. This may be inspiring to some, but to the people of Iowa, it's an everyday lifestyle. Hard work, productive soil, favorable weather, and adding the right combination of ingredients result in a sustainable food supply. What is lost by the sheer size of the agricultural economy is the importance of the local farmers markets. These markets provide fresh and nutritious products for a healthy lifestyle and income for farm businesses. Each year, the Iowa Department of Human Services recognizes the needs of many Iowans for their nutritional benefits and payment options, with programs for an all-win opportunity. In 2004, the governor asked the DHS to explore ways to help food assistance families utilize farmers markets in a more effective way. In 2005, leadership by the Iowa Department of Human Services established the Wireless EBT project, providing Iowans with new purchasing options throughout the state. By qualifying under the federal SNAP program known as food assistance in Iowa, the wireless EBT project allows 164,332 families or households who receive food assistance to purchase farm-fresh products at markets where access was not available before. "It's really important for us to be able to use our EBT card. We really like to support the local farmers, and being able to do that with our EBT card is really great. We're here to buy some seasonal produce and hopefully some grass-fed, pastured meats, and that's not really something we can get in the small town that we live close to." The wireless EBT project expanded consumers' payment options beyond cash or checks for fresh fruits and vegetables to include debit and credit cards. In addition to the EBT...
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