If you don't have this program in your state, think about asking for it

[Joanie Baloney]

Fantastic idea - check out the full article.

Farmers Markets reach out to low-income residents


The City Heights farmers market is one of three outdoor markets in San Diego County that can process such public assistance funds. This service—bundled with a program that helps people sign up for benefits on site and another that matches their funds once they’ve been approved—has given low-income residents like Sandoval greater access to fresh, organic foods.


For these residents, access to quality produce depends largely on an electronic benefit transfer, or EBT, machine provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The wireless device allows market organizers to charge food stamp EBT cards for tokens that can be exchanged like cash at booths. WIC checks can also be traded for tokens. Farmers then redeem the wooden coins they’ve collected for checks they can take to the bank.

During its first two years, the market brought in only about $100,000 annually, Cochrane said. Since April, more than $80,000 in purchases has already been made, about $12,000 of it in food stamps and other supplemental funds. Cochrane said she credits the recent success to a fund-matching program that stretches customers’ food stipends.

Every client who taps into his or her public assistance money, including Supplemental Security Income for people with disabilities, is guaranteed a match of up to $20 per month through Fresh Fund, a program operated by the International Rescue Committee with support from federal stimulus dollars and the California Department of Food and Agriculture. When a customer spends $5 in food stamps, he or she will actually have $10 to spend that day.



http://www.healthycal.org/farmers-markets-reach-out-to-low-income-residents.html


-JB

[niyad]

1. k and r--thank you.

[Joanie Baloney]

2. yw

:)

[Rabblevox]

3. Damn. I thought that program was unique to Portland....

I'm not up on the details, as I'm not quite poor enough to qualify for food stamps (yet). But we have a very similar program here in Portland. It's a win-win-win as far as I can see.

People living in poverty eat better and cheaper. Local farmers sell more of their produce. The money stays right here in the local economy. What's not to love?

I'm tickled fucking pink that a conservative bastion like San Diego is down with this. The idea needs to go viral.

[WatsonT]

4. Might be a net gain for the country financially

offer some incentives to sell fresh produce in areas that otherwise would not have it. It would cost some money, but I can't imagine a whole lot. And could very well yield tremendous returns in the form of reduced medicaid/care costs for these people.

[MedicalAdmin]

8. Might be? It's money flowing to main street as opposed to wall street.

And we all know that local money has a huge multiplying effect of about 7 to 1, whereas money that goes to the big corps has zero or a negative effect.

Viva el campasino familia.

[MedicalAdmin]

5. Recommended for the good idea award.

We don't have anything like this here in my corner of MN, but I do know that the local co-op, the local farmers markets, etc... all take food stamps and WIC. We also donate all extra produce/etc. to the local homeless/womens/etc. shelters. But this idea is really a good one. Great, in fact.

[Joanie Baloney]

6. I agree with all of you!

Spread the word!

:)

-JB

[Jmaxfie1]

7. Great program, great post! n/t

[MindPilot]

9. K&R What's not to like about this idea?

It doesn't include a tax break for the rich and may actually help poor people, but that's about all I can think of.

As some of you may recall, it was DU's very own Joanie Baloney who was instrumental in getting the city of San Diego to waive the fees and streamline the permit process to start community gardens.