- Food stamps growing at farmers markets, By Michele Clock, February 17, 2010, San Diego Union-Tribune: “Every weekend Patricia Andrews sets up elaborate displays of locally produced honey at farmers markets around the county. A good chunk of her business comes from people on food stamps. ‘Not everybody has a lot of expendable income,’ Andrews said after squeezing a sample of the gooey, golden stuff into a spoon for a customer at the Mission Valley Farmers Market. But just four of 42 farmers markets in San Diego County, and less than 15 percent across the state, accept food stamps. That may soon change…”
- Lawmakers help food stamps get to farmers markets, By Cathy Bussewitz (AP), February 16, 2010, Woodland Daily Democrat: “Tina Tennyson loved to make raspberry jam using the fresh fruit she bought at the farmers market in San Jose. When she recently moved to Sacramento, she hit a stumbling block: The local market didn’t accept food stamps. Like most farmers markets across the state, the one held Sundays in the state capital only accepts cash. Lawmakers are considering a bill that would help the markets get equipment to accept electronic food stamp benefits cards — joining legislatures nationwide considering similar measures they hope will expand the menu of fresh food options for the poor as food stamp enrollment soars…”
Tag: Farmers markets
Food Stamps and Farmers’ Markets
- Food stamps, now paperless, are getting easier to use at farmers’ markets, By Katie Zezima, July 19, 2009, New York Times: “Natasha Smilansky comes to the farmers’ market here each Thursday because she enjoys ripe tomatoes and cucumbers. Now there is the added benefit of using food stamps for her purchases. ‘It helps me a lot,’ said Ms. Smilansky, 53, who is on disability. ‘I like the freshness of the vegetables here. I spend all year waiting for the market.’ The use of food stamps at farmers’ markets has been authorized for some time. But the program has been limited because the federal government in 2004 replaced the traditional paper food stamp coupons with debit cards that were processed through electronic benefit transfer terminals…”
- Food stamp users get fresh food options, By Catherine Jun, July 21, 2009, Detroit News: “On her visits to the local farmers market over the past two years, Denise Hicks, who receives food stamps, could spare only a few dollars for vegetables and a cookie each for her two children. That changed this summer. Starting in June, the Northwest Detroit Farmers Market began accepting Electronic Benefit Transfer cards. On a recent visit, Hicks swiped her card and bought a modest bagful of farm fresh groceries: a seven-grain loaf of bread, reduced-fat hamburgers, salmon, baby cucumbers and organic tomatoes…”
Food Stamp Program and Farmers Markets
Farmers markets reach out to food stamp recipients, By Dionne Walker (AP), July 2, 2009, Chicago Tribune: “The luxuries of the East Atlanta Village Farmers Market — where shoppers peruse European-style breads and organic dog biscuits along with locally grown produce — are a stark contrast to the neighborhood, where Census officials have estimated 20 percent of families live beneath the poverty line. But Kate Barney hopes to draw her lower-income neighbors to the market, and she’s giving them an incentive: Starting this month, the market will double the value of food stamp benefits used at the market, letting shoppers get twice the fresh fruits and vegetables…”