{"id":7078331,"date":"2026-10-06T16:36:29","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T16:36:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7078331"},"modified":"2026-10-06T16:36:29","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T16:36:29","slug":"unpacking-the-new-snap-stocking-requirements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7078331","title":{"rendered":"Unpacking the New SNAP Stocking Requirements\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Photo credit: USDA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

A new US Department of Agriculture (USDA) rule geared towards increasing healthy food options for families that receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits has generated confusion for farmers, farmers markets, and other local food stores that accept SNAP or plan to. The rule is currently set to take effect on November 4, 2026. This blog post provides an overview of the updated stocking requirements and provides examples of how farmers and other local food vendors can continue to accept SNAP under this updated rule.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

SNAP Spending Benefits Farmers\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

SNAP benefits are a monthly cash benefit that supports families in purchasing staple food items. The program has evolved significantly over time from its paper food stamp origins to today, when families spend their benefits via electronic debit cards at a variety of in-person and online locations (grocery stores, farm stands, corner stores, online, etc.). For nearly three decades, USDA has implemented initiatives that encourage SNAP spending directly with farmers. While this spending is small relative to the total annual SNAP spending, these are nevertheless meaningful purchases for farmers and their communities.<\/p>\n

2025 Highlights\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Vendor Type\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nAverage Purchase Amount\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nTotal Value of Redemptions\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Direct Marketing Farmer\u00a0<\/td>\n$52.18<\/td>\n$28 million\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Farmers Markets\u00a0<\/td>\n$34.13\u00a0<\/td>\n$50 million\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
All stores (including above)\u00a0<\/td>\n\u2013<\/td>\n$101.7 billion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>
Source:<\/em> USDA SNAP Retailer Management Survey<\/a>; SNAP Key Statistics<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Any farmer, retailer, or farmers market must apply to accept SNAP benefits with USDA. There are two ways, called Criteria A and B, that entities can qualify as SNAP retailers. Staple grocery foods<\/a>1<\/sup> comprise the majority of most farms\u2019 or farmers markets\u2019 sales, and these farms can qualify by Criterion B<\/a>, which considers the overall value of sales. Criterion B is unaffected by the new rules. Farms, markets, or other local food stores that sell a significant amount of prepared foods, value-added items, nursery items, non-food items, or foods that are not considered staple foods<\/a>1<\/sup> must qualify by Criterion A<\/a>. The new rules have stricter requirements to qualify by Criterion A.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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1<\/sup>USDA defines staple foods as basic foods that make up a significant portion of a person\u2019s diet and are usually prepared at home. They include four groups: breads, cereals, and grains; dairy products (including plant-based); fruits and vegetables; meat, poultry, beans, and fish.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Updated Standards\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Last year, the Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA; formerly the Food and Nutrition Service or FNS) posted a proposed rule to the Federal Register<\/a> to update the staple food stocking requirements for SNAP authorized vendors. In May, FNA posted the final rule that is poised to go into effect November 4, 2026. These new stocking requirements<\/a> apply to retailers authorized under Criterion A only, and do not affect entities that use Criterion B. In order to be an authorized vendor, retailers\u2019 inventory must include:\u00a0<\/p>\n