Login  |  Search

Farmer's Market Food Assistance

 

 

VALUE: HEALTHY PEOPLE

Value-Based Practice:Utilize a broad range of public investments and tools (such as land use planning) to increase access to healthy food and decrease inequities across race and class that contribute to food insecurity and compromise health.

First Step: PROMOTE USE OF FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AT FARMERS’ MARKETS
Promote use and acceptance of food assistance program benefits at farmers’ markets

Needs & Opportunities:

While many low-income residents do not purchase goods at farmers’ markets due to perceived and actual higher prices, there has been an upward trend of purchases as more and more markets accept SNAP EBT cards and WIC/Senior Nutrition checks.  Currently, 84 percent of year-round farmers’ markets in Alameda County are equipped to handle EBT cards, and 84 percent accept WIC/Senior Nutrition checks. 74 percent accept both[i]. However, many individuals eligible for food assistance programs are not receiving benefits. Only 51 percent of Alameda County residents eligible for SNAP are enrolled in the program[ii].  Promoting full enrollment in food assistance programs and providing enrollees with information on farmers’ markets will increase community buying power and access to purchase high-quality, fresh produce.

Action Suggested:
City of Oakland: Promote enrollment in SNAP and other programs so that all of those eligible are enrolled and are aware that they can use their benefits at farmers’ markets. Promote farmers’ markets as sources of healthy food that accept EBT.
Regional/State Governments: Promote enrollment in SNAP and other programs so that all of those eligible are enrolled and are aware that they can use their benefits at farmers’ markets. Eliminate roadblocks to participation in these programs.
Community Members: Increase support for education and outreach efforts for SNAP shoppers to patronize farmers’ markets.
Public-Private Partnerships: Work to widen scope of stores that accepts EBT cards, WIC program, and Senior Nutrition checks, specifically targeting stores with healthy foods.
Private Sector: Advertise EBT card, WIC program, and Senior Nutrition check acceptance at appropriate storefronts and at farmers’ markets.

Fiscal Impact:

According to the California Food Policy Advocates, full participation in SNAP in Alameda County would generate over $234 million dollars of additional economic activity over current conditions.  

Best Practices & Further Information:

For information on equipping markets to accept EBT, the Ecology Center’s Farmers' Market EBT project websiteincludes  A Simple Guide for Electronic Benefits Transfer for SNAP benefits at California Farmers' Markets. See also the USDA SNAP Farmers’ Market Handbook, and a USDA grant program for EBT at farmers’ markets which benefits several local organizations. For information on how markets can apply to accept benefits, see the CA Department of Public Health’s WIC-FMNP 2010 Handbook.

For information on increasing the numbers of SNAP shoppers at markets, see Real Food, Real Choice: Connecting SNAP Recipients with Farmers’ Markets, by the Community Food Security Coalition and the Farmers’ Market Coalition. For information on enrollment in benefit programs, contact the Alameda County Community Food Bank and Alameda County Social Services Agency.


[i]Personal communication with Ecaterina Burton, Advocacy and Education Associate at the Alameda County Community Food Bank. September 30, 2010.

[ii]California Food Policy Advocates. 2010 Alameda County Nutrition and Food Insecurity Profile. http://www.cfpa.net/2010CountyProfiles/Alameda.pdf

This non-profits service by Grassroots.org and Doodlekit™ Free Website Builder