More farmers markets take food stamps, By Mary Jane Smetanka, May 3, 2011, Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune: “The drive to get fresh food to low-income Minnesotans is getting a boost this year with a big increase in the number of farmers markets that will accept food stamps. Eight new markets will allow customers to buy fresh fruit and vegetables with food stamps this year, bringing the number of markets belonging to the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association that accept food stamps to 13. While that doesn’t sound like a lot — there are an estimated 130 formal farmers markets in the state — using food stamps at those markets is a financial and technical challenge. Users of the federal program, officially called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), buy food with a card that is swiped like a credit card. That requires a card reader and an electrical or wireless connection, which are not always easy to get at makeshift market locations…”
Tag: Farmers markets
Farmers’ Markets and Urban Farming
- Obstacles seen in poor areas for new farmers’ markets, By Diane Cardwell, April 11, 2011, New York Times: “For years, the Bloomberg administration has labored to improve the eating habits of New Yorkers, banning trans fats from restaurants, urging food purveyors to use less salt and creating special zoning to encourage fresh-food supermarkets to open in produce-poor neighborhoods. But the city still puts roadblocks in the way of community groups seeking to open farmers’ markets in low-income neighborhoods, says a report to be released on Tuesday by the Manhattan borough president, Scott M. Stringer. Those efforts face excessive fees, confusing rules and a lack of coordination among agencies, the report says…”
- Coming to a vacant lot near you, the neighborhood farm, By Madeleine Baran, April 7, 2011, Minnesota Public Radio: “Farmers looking for land to grow food to sell may have another option. A plan to expand urban agriculture in Minneapolis passed the city’s zoning and planning committee on Thursday, opening the door for farmers to turn vacant lots into commercial farms. Minneapolis is already home to community gardens and farmers markets, but the city lacked definitions or regulations of land used to grow and sell food. Urban agriculture supporters said that made it impossible to get approval for innovative farming projects. Similar plans have been adopted in Cleveland, Seattle, Portland, Philadelphia, Chicago, Kansas City, Oakland and Detroit…”
Farmers Markets and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
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…”