Maine WIC Farmer Newsletter - Spring 2025

WIC Purpose                

WIC Farmers Play a Central Role in Achieving WIC’s Mission

WIC authorized farmers play a vital role in WIC’s mission to improve the health of low-income women, infants and children up to 5 years of age, who are at nutritional risk. By supplying fresh fruits and vegetables, Maine farmers help WIC participants meet their dietary needs, reduce the likelihood of chronic diseases, and support the healthy development of children.

Early childhood is a formative period for establishing taste preferences, and introducing new fruits and vegetables during this time lays the foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating. Through the Maine WIC program, participants have two options for obtaining fresh produce from Maine farmers:

Each month, WIC families receive a cash value Fruits and Vegetables Benefit as part of their monthly food package, which can be used year-round at WIC farmer locations or supermarkets.

During the summer months, families receive extra benefits to purchase fresh produce through the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), which are only redeemable with WIC farmers.

In addition to providing nutritious foods, WIC continues to offer valuable nutrition education and referrals to other essential services.

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FMNP Purpose

Farmers' Market Nutrition Program: Benefiting WIC Families and Maine Farmers 

The Farmers Market Nutrition Program kicks off on July 1st and continues until Oct 31st, or earlier if funding runs out. This initiative aims to boost the consumption of fresh, unprocessed produce among WIC families while promoting the advantages of shopping with local farmers.

Throughout the season you will be seeing WIC agency staff at farmers’ markets across the state, supporting both participants and farmers. Reach out to your local WIC office to find out if they will be visiting your farmers market this season.

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S3 Merchant Link

S3 MerchantLink: Important S3ML Update

🎉 Exciting News: The New S3ML App is Here!

The latest version of the S3ML App is:

• iOS: Version 1.8
• Android: Version 1.7.626

Let’s get the season off to a smooth and successful start!

First, take a moment to log into the S3ML Web Portal (not the app): https://s3merchantlink.com.

If you haven’t used the app in a while, you may need to reset your password.

Use this new password to log into the app.

Need help? Solutran is here for you!  Please note there is a new email for the S3ML support team. Have your WIC vendor number ready when you call or include it in the email, along with your farm name and contact information.

📅 Monday–Friday, 9 AM – 6 PM

📧 Email: [email protected]

📞 Phone: 833-532-1650

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WIC and FMNP Foods

Fresh Herbs: Nutritious and Delicious

We are excited to announce that fresh herbs are now included in WIC’s monthly Fruits and Vegetables Benefit. While they were already accessible during summer months through the FMNP Benefit, they are now available year-round as part of participants' monthly food package. 

Fresh herbs are packed with essential nutrients, promote cultural eating habits, and enhance the flavor of healthy meals. This is especially helpful for encouraging young children to enjoy their vegetables!

Herbs can be cut at the root or have the root intact. They must be fresh, not dried or potted.

As a reminder, items allowable with WICs monthly Fruits and Vegetables Benefit include any variety of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. Items that are not allowed include cut vegetables with dip, dried fruits or vegetables, or mixed fruit and nuts.

Foods Allowable with FMNP Benefits

FMNP benefits can be used to purchase fresh, unprocessed Maine-grown fruits and vegetables from a WIC authorized farmer. 

Foods not allowed with FMNP Benefits include anything grown outside the state of Maine, processed food, or animal products. Examples include baked goods, cheese, eggs, oranges, bananas, cider, maple syrup, honey, jams/jellies, and plants/seedlings.

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Redemption Procedures

Farmer Tested Tip: Using the Transaction History Feature on the S3ML App

If you have a question about whether a transaction was successful or just want to review your WIC transactions for today or previous days, there is a helpful button on the main screen of the S3ML App – Transaction History. 

When you receive the message Insufficient Funds, checking this button might help. Occasionally, a transaction might process so quickly that it appears there are insufficient funds because the benefits have already been transferred from the participant’s BNFT app.

To learn more about the Transaction History function, click on this link to watch a brief video: S3 Merchant Mobile App Transaction History Video

To review the redemption procedure for the S3ML App, watch this brief video:                  S3 Merchant Link Mobile App Redemption Procedure Video.

Both videos are also available on the Maine WIC website Farmers/Training section. 

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Participant BNFT

Supporting New WIC Customers

For many new WIC participants, this summer will mark their first trip to a Farmers’ Market. Below are some helpful tips we share with families before they shop with WIC farmers for the first time. Some WIC customers may need some reminders, and this is where you can help.

First Timer Tips:

The WIC card cannot be used at the farmers’ market. Shoppers can download the BNFT app by scanning the QR code on the yellow WIC posters or visiting mybnft.com. Here they can access their barcode that lets them shop with farmers.

If customers are having trouble with their BNFT app, they can log onto the website to generate the barcode to be scanned.

If a customer’s barcode is expired, they can log into the app or website to generate a new one.

If customers come with a printed barcode but the ends of the barcode are cut off, you can manually enter the barcode number and remind them to shrink the image before printing for next time.