GARDINER -- The bold red letters stood out on the dry-erase board.

But the message, "EBT available right here," may have been more bold than the letters themselves.

The Gardiner Farmers' Market is now accepting food stamps with an EBT -- electronic benefit transfer -- machine. The machine allows recipients of food stamps and Women, Infants and Children benefits to purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables.

"We were a little nervous at first because we wondered, 'How are we going to make this work?' But people were delighted," said Ann "Boo" Hubbard, manager of the Gardiner Farmers' Market. "Someone told me they had been waiting a long time for this to happen. Another woman called her friend to tell her about it."

"It's very much a word-of-mouth thing," Hubbard said. "The idea that people can bring their food stamps to a market instead of a supermarket is very new."

Hubbard worked with the state Department of Agriculture; Chrysalis, the city's food bank; Kennebec Valley Community Action Program; and Michele Roy and Denis Thoet, market vendors who own Long Meadow Farm.

One deterrent, the group has said, is lack of transportation for clients to reach a farmers' market.

"We're working with KVCAP to sponsor rides to and from the market," Hubbard said. "We think that will help quite a bit, getting people to the market who want to be able to use their food stamps here. We have also asked the Department of Agriculture and Chrysalis Place to get the word out to WIC users."

Hubbard said she hopes word of mouth spreads from the highest office in the state.

First lady Karen Baldacci, a longtime advocate of food stamp use at Maine farmers' markets and farm stands, visited the Gardiner Farmers' Market on Wednesday.

"The first lady was very pleased to hear of Gardiner's step forward in providing this service," Blaine House spokeswoman Joy Leach said. "As a registered dietitian, teacher and mother, she has long advocated for food stamps to be accepted at these markets, ensuring Mainers have access to fresh, Maine-grown food."

Hubbard said she was "absolutely thrilled" by Baldacci's visit.

"It's wonderful to have governor and Mrs. Baldacci backing us on this," she said. "Not only would it get word to people they can use their vouchers at farmers' markets, but I would hope that it would spread the word to other markets that they can offer this, as well."

"Let's hope the bigger markets in Portland, (the) Bangor area and Augusta will pick up the ball and run with it," Roy said. "Nearly one-fifth of Maine people receive food stamp assistance, and they are effectively cut off from getting fresh, local vegetables right now."

Gardiner is the second farmers' market with the technology to accept food stamps; the first was a market in Lewiston.

Officials from the state Department of Agriculture have said other farmers' markets and stands are interested in following suit.

Michael O'Connor, an EBT project manager for the state Department of Health and Human Services, said that, as of last month, 102,000 households in the state receive food stamps.

Meghan V. Malloy -- 623-3811, ext. 431

mmalloy@centralmaine.com