NORWICH – Despite the help of a state-funded program allowing for an Electronic Benefit Transfer machine at the Chenango County Farmers Market this year, few residents have taken advantage of the opportunity that would allow them to eat healthy and shop locally.

“We thought the new program might make it busier that it is,” said Ken Welbrecht, president of the Chenango County Farmers Market. Thus far, fewer than 10 people have utilized the EBT machine since it first became available at the market earlier this month. “It’s been slow. A lot of people don’t know about it,” he said.

In March, the Farmers Market teamed up with the Cornell Cooperative Extension to apply for funding for the program in hopes of drawing in more shoppers and vendors. While vendors have increased with the anticipation of selling more of their products, use of the EBT machine is off to slow start.