It's that time of year again. Markets are brimming with fresh, seasonal produce and customers are anxious to bring home the best food produced by our farmers.
It also means that coupon programs are well underway and farmers will be sending them off to the Federation for reimbursement. Here are some thoughts on how you can make the redemption process go quickly and shorten the time it takes for farmers to receive their payments.
Make sure all coupons are facing the same direction. If we have to organize the coupons for processing, it slows the work down. It may also mean that the coupons will be set aside until all others are done.
Band coupons together. Putting organized coupons loose in a large envelope or box will not keep them organized! They are bounced around the mail trucks, thrown across the mail sorting process and the coupons become a jumbled mess. Again, if we need to organize the coupons for processing, the coupons will be set aside until we have the time to deal with them.
Segregate different coupons from one another. Each coupon type is processed on its own.
Be sure all coupons are stamped (signed if you have no stamp). BUT be sure the stamp is in the proper location and NOT on the bar codes. That means the bar codes cannot be read and slows the process down when the coupons need to be hand entered.
Let the ink dry before they are packed tightly into a box. Wet ink causes the coupons to stick together and can cause miscounts.
Remove all staples. While we ask that staples not be used when distributing coupons, they are often used. But staples damage the processing machinery, so we have to remove all staples to prevent damage. This slows processing down and may cause the coupons to be set aside and dealt with once others are done.
Be sure to include all information necessary to allow for a check to be cut. Include the redemption form and completely fill it out. Checks will be cut to the name indicated on the redemption form. Be sure the correct address is on the form for mailing your check. If nothing is included or the form is not complete, we cannot make payment. You can find the form here.
The more frequent you send coupons for redemption, the faster you get money. We always encourage frequent mailings. Waiting until the end of the season means a pile up of coupons and takes us longer to get through everyone’s coupons.
Be sure you use a secure envelope or packaging. We sometimes get envelopes that have been ripped open by postal sorting machinery. Coupons fall out and are lost.
We do our best to accurately process everyone’s coupons in a timely manner and get checks out. We appreciate your patience and your willingness to accept coupons as payment for your farm products! Have a great market season!