Some NC farmers markets struggle to accept food stamps, By Andrea Weigl, April 10, 2014, News and Observer: “Consumers can use food stamps to buy produce at grocery stores, but the freshest local fruits and vegetables for sale at farmers markets are often not available to them. Many local markets would love to sell to those shoppers but find they don’t have the manpower or money to be able to accept food stamps. In Wake County, five small markets with grant funding and government or other financial support already accept or will soon be accepting food stamps; a few farmers at the state-run market off Lake Wheeler Road near downtown Raleigh accept them, too. Without such support, other markets have found the process daunting…”
Tag: Farmers markets
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- More Floridians on food stamps despite increase in jobs, By Donna Gehrke-White, May 30, 2012, South Florida Sun Sentinel: “A record number of South Floridians continue to receive food stamps even though the economy shows signs of recovery in the unemployment rate. The state’s record number of food stamp recipients keeps growing although the recession officially ended almost three years ago, said Erin Gillespie, spokeswoman of the Florida Department of Children and Families that oversees the federal food program. Indeed, the number of people on food stamps is at an all time high of 175,688 in Palm Beach County – 0.4 percent more just in April – while Broward has a record 267,755 receiving food stamps – a 0.8 percent jump last month, she said. The state as a whole was up 0.4 in April…”
- USDA targets food-stamp fraud with state effort, By Sam Hananel, May 28, 2012, Washington Post: “Some food stamp recipients are ripping off the government for millions of dollars by illegally selling their benefit cards for cash – sometimes even in the open, on eBay or Craigslist – and then asking the government for replacement cards. The Agriculture Department wants to curb the practice by giving states more power to investigate people who repeatedly claim to lose their benefit cards. It is proposing new rules that would allow states to demand formal explanations from people who seek replacement cards more than three times a year. Those who do not comply may be denied replacement cards…”
- Farmers market options for food stamps sought, Associated Press, May 31, 2012, Omaha World-Herald: “Iowa is scrambling to develop a plan for spending federal money to expand payment options at farmers markets by allowing shoppers to pull out a benefit card for food assistance to pay for strawberries, fresh greens, home-baked bread and other food. An appropriations measure approved last year provides $4 million in funding to increase farmers markets participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps. With about 210 farmers markets, Iowa is set to receive about $161,000 for the program, which requires funds be obligated by Sept. 30…”
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- USDA to push access to farmers markets, By Meghann Meyers, May 11, 2012, Philadelphia Inquirer: “Farmers markets are a popular source of reasonably priced fresh produce, but across the country many accept only cash or checks – a big problem for low-income shoppers using food stamps. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is trying to change that. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan this week announced a $4 million grant for states to help implement wireless technology that will allow more farmers markets to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, or food stamps. Markets need wireless Internet or land-line connections in order to accept payments from customers using government benefits, a system known as Electronic Benefits Transfer…”
- Demand for food stamps down slightly in Tampa area, By Kevin Wiatrowski, May 14, 2012, Tampa Tribune: “The demand for food stamps has begun to slow in the Tampa area and statewide, but millions of Floridians still need help feeding themselves and their children. That’s according to the most recent accounting by the state Department of Children and Families, which tracks enrollment in aid programs such a food stamps, cash welfare and Medicaid. DCF spokeswoman Erin Gillespie said the flattening out of food stamp demand mirrors the slow improvement in the state’s employment numbers, which fell to 9 percent last month…”