Minn. farmers’ markets adapt as food stamp program changes to EBT, By Julie Siple, October 25, 2011, Minnesota Public Radio: “Getting fruits and vegetables into the hands of low-income Minnesotans got a little bit easier this summer, as a growing number of farmers markets across the state allowed customers to pay with Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT cards — the replacement for food stamps. It’s part of a national trend, one aimed at making fresh produce more accessible to the more than 45 million Americans who rely on government assistance to put food on their table…”
Tag: Farmers markets
SNAP and Farmers Markets – Virginia
SNAP cards give low-income customers access to farmers markets, By Lindsey Nair, August 17, 2011, Roanoke Times: “Elbert “Tee” Reynolds has become the official greeter at the West End Community Market in Roanoke, where every Tuesday afternoon he swipes customers’ benefit cards and hands them wooden tokens. The cards represent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for low-income families, while the tokens represent welcome cash for hardworking local farmers. Reynolds, a SNAP recipient who volunteers at the market, said some families who live in the surrounding neighborhoods do not have easy access to fresh, healthy food. Until recently, residents did not shop at the farmers market because they didn’t have the money…”
Farmers Markets and Food Stamps
Farmers markets in Massachusetts seek to boost their trade in food stamps as use soars, By Dan Ring, August 8, 2011, The Republican: “Operators of farmers markets in Western Massachusetts are attempting to boost their share of a growing group of customers – people with food stamps. The use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, or food stamps, in Massachusetts is exploding, having grown 61 percent over the past three years. To take advantage, the state and some market managers are dangling incentives for recipients to buy at the markets including grants to markets for electronic payment terminals and certain matching dollars for consumers. Another key goal of the effort is to encourage low-income families to eat more nutritious vegetables and fruits…”