The USDA is cracking down on fraud in its nutrition-assistance program, and farmers markets could be among its targets.
Ag Under Secretary Kevin Concannon yesterday rolled out new tactics for fighting abuse of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which include tougher financial sanctions for retailers and new safeguards required of states in enrolling recipients.
Concannon said he wasn't aware of instances of fraud at farmers markets that accept electronic-benefit transfer (EBT) cards. But he said the markets will be under the same scrutiny as retailers.
“We'll be watching their redemption experience,” Concannon told the Capital Press during a conference call with reporters. “We have ways of watching and profiling locations.”
The government can carefully monitor transactions, tracking their frequency and redemption amounts, he said. “There are a lot of factors … that raise the flag for us,” he said. The agency also has about 100 undercover workers in targeted areas around the country, he said.
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