On farmers' markets and food stamps

19 Jun 2006

Got questions about the environment? Ask Umbra.

Dear Umbra,

Do organic grocers take food stamps? Do farmers' markets? If not, what do ecologically/health-minded people on fixed incomes do?

David Burch
South Bend, Ind.

Ask Umbra continues below

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Dearest David,

Did you know that in many states food stamps are no longer stamps? Plastic cards similar to ATM cards have replaced the paper coupons. Electronic Benefit Transfer, it's called, and it's not dissimilar to a bank card with a finite, monthly replenished amount of money.

Out of reach?

Photo: iStockphoto.

Any store that wants to accept food stamps or EBT can apply to do so. To qualify to accept food stamps, a store has to offer an "ample variety" of the four categories of staple foods, or garner 50 percent of gross sales from one or more staple foods. The four staples, of course, being: dairy; meat, poultry, and fish; cereals/breads; fruit/vegetables; and chocolate. (Oops, is that five?) Naturally, any decent grocery would qualify under these initial guidelines, so if a grocery with an organic or natural-foods selection is not accepting benefits, one would need to ask to find out why not.

For a farmers' market, accepting EBT is not quite as straightforward. That's logical when we think of how money exchange usually works at a farmers' market: how hectic it can be, how the farmers operate on a cash economy that isn't easily compatible with getting compensated by the government for food stamps wedged into their back pocket at the end of the day, not to mention dealing with an electronic benefits card. That said, farmers and market managers, and folks working with fixed-income clients, have worked hard to make it possible for food-benefit recipients to shop at farmers' markets. Some markets accept EBT, take special WIC coupons, and/or participate in the federal Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (the name says it all).

The EBT acceptance was piloted in the last few years. One approach is for EBT recipients to swipe their cards at a central terminal and receive scrip to spend at the market; another is for the market to organize wireless EBT swiping stations at individual vendors. Both have their self-evident challenges of confusion in a busy environment, but both have been successful.

Some markets have not been able to integrate these new choices into their operations. To figure out if a specific farmers' market participates in any of these programs, you'll have to ask at the manager's booth (or check with your state nutrition office). If you know persons on fixed incomes who aren't aware of these opportunities, please let them know. They can learn about the details from their case manager, or the federal Food and Nutrition Service website.

Swipely,
Umbra

Yours is to wonder why, hers is to answer (or try). Please send Umbra any nagging question pertaining to the environment -- but first check out her FAQs!

The claims made in this column may not reflect the views of this magazine. Neither the magazine nor the author guarantees that any advice contained in this column is wise or safe. Please use this column at your own risk.

Umbra Fisk is Grist Research Associate II, Hardcover and Periodicals Unit, floors 2B-4B.

Comments: (9 comments)

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Using food stamps in RI

In RI, most farmers market take food stamps, WIC coupons, and Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition Program coupons. You can see which ones do and where they are at www.farmfreshri.org.

by Penfold007 at 12:16 PM on 19 Jun 2006

Local Grocery Stores

I dont know how every state is out there, but the grocery stores here in Los Angeles carry their own brands of organic goods. Ralphs, Pavilions and Albertsons have organic stuff that you can pay for with stamps and the like. Hope that helps!

David

www.thegoodhuman.com

by damonq9 at 12:25 PM on 19 Jun 2006

We don't take AMEX, but . . .

At the natural food store where I work, in Bridgton, Maine, we take EBT cards (Maine's version of food stamps/welfare/health care reimbursement). All our produce is organic and much is local in season. We always carry local eggs and also local meat and poultry. And many local farmstands accept vouchers from the state which entitle seniors to a certain amount of fresh produce every month during the growing season. And some accept EBT cards, as well. Even so, organic produce is more expensive than conventional produce so it takes a certain commitment, whether you use food stamps or cash, to stick strictly with organic. In our store we post a list of produce that is more likely to be contaminated with pesticides so that if people have to make choices they can do it that way. The regular grocery stores also carry organic produce, but it's usually more expensive than ours and not as high quality. Partly because it seems the produce managers don't know how to treat it. For example, keeping organic bananas in plastic bags (but non-organic ones aren't) which hastens spoilage.

by SMLowry at 1:13 PM on 19 Jun 2006

the view from Lansing, MI

at least one of our farmer's markets (hurrah allen street!) takes "food stamps"/EBT/bridge card as tender for organo/local groceries... and the east lansing food co-op does as well - the only health food store in the area that does, i think.

by famouspotato at 3:43 PM on 19 Jun 2006

Other ways to pay

Even if your farmer's market doesn't take EBT, many of the farmers may be willing to barter or exchange some amount of farm labor for food. If you are able to get to the farm, there are many ways to help out. CSA's, especially, often offer discounts in exchange for labor.

by MAM at 5:11 PM on 19 Jun 2006

The unexamined issues

The so-called "unexamined class issues lurking in the background" deserve some significant attention, so I'll just throw in a few cents now.

I see much of the positive activity around increasing food options for lower income people coming from greenies and the Left. The lack of supermarkets or produce stands in inner cities and low income areas isn't because of elitist farmers' market shoppers -- it's a combination of corporate decisions and the low margins in the food business. And for many residents in these underserved neighborhoods, just getting to and from the grocery store can be an expensive ordeal requiring many bus rides or a taxi, thus increasing their overall food costs.

Who was fighting for the South Central Farm? Board members from Safeway or WalMart? Bankers? No, greenies and foodies. Environmentalists are also working in low income areas to open more community gardens and preserve urban farms.

by meander at 11:11 PM on 19 Jun 2006

unused wic coupons

i'm a farmers market manager in california, and i can tell you the wic program is woefully underutilized. every year, the program is cut back more and more because the coupons just don't get used. if you or someone you know qualifies for wic farmers market coupons, run--don't walk--to get them and use them!

by kimdow at 12:58 PM on 20 Jun 2006

Location, location, location

In business, it is everything. And this is true for farmer's markets too. Most of the ones I know about (which is not all, so I would love to hear about different examples!), are in relatively well off areas. This means that most of them, cater to people with money (if I'm selling something, I want to do so as well!).

It's not just a question of whether they take food coupons, it's a question of location. Their location makes them a less likely option for many poor people. This is the real problem.

One idea would be for cities to run free direct buses from poor areas to farmers markets at certain times. It would make accessing them easier, and would not have to be terribly expensive. (Or some NGO might apply for a grant to do this).

Another idea, would be for farmers markets to go to poor communities, at least during festivals and special events. They might consider working with local churches or community groups to see what would be possible.

patrick

by bookerly at 4:47 PM on 20 Jun 2006

More Thoughts

Farmer's Markets could also work to establish a delivery system for small markets in poor areas that are too far away to actually visit.

Look up the local (city or county) political representative for the poorer neighborhoods, contact them, see if they can help find money, people to organize such things.

Consider organizing school trips from poor schools to organic farms.

I know managers don't have time to do this, but put up notices and try to find volunteers. If no one volunteers, then, well, you have tried. But someone might.

Look to local green groups for volunteers, send them a copy of the flier you post.

Try the same thing for community centers and schools in poor areas.

You don't have to do it all yourself, but reach out!

patrick

by bookerly at 6:42 PM on 22 Jun 2006

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On farmers' markets and food stamps