Farmers’ markets draw few food stamp users despite outreach; distance, cost remain problems, By David Runk, and Sarah Skidmore (AP), September 15, 2010, Los Angeles Times: “Despite widespread efforts to attract low-income shoppers, farmers’ markets have had limited success in drawing people like Bishop Reed, who in the past three years has lost his job and his home. Reed signed up for food stamps six months ago and uses them to buy groceries for himself, his teenage daughter and a niece at either a local grocery chain or one of the discount stores. ‘What is a farmers’ market?’ asked Reed, a Portland-area resident, when told he could use his benefits there as well. About one-fourth of the nation’s 6,000 or so farmers’ markets accept food stamps, now known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. But the bulk of SNAP benefits redeemed last year – 82 percent – went to grocery stores and supercenters. Less than 0.01 percent was spent at farmers’ markets, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture…”
Poverty-related issues in the news, from the Institute for Research on Poverty