Gov’t Spending $4M to Make Sure Welfare Recipients Can Use Food Stamps at Farmers’ Markets
- Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:30pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Kevin Concannon, U.S. undersecretary of agriculture, chats with vendor Helen Wise at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh, N.C., on Tuesday, May 8, 2012. The federal government is spending $4 million to make such markets more accessible to food stamp recipients. (AP Photo/Allen Breed)
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The federal government is spending $4 million to help hook up farmers and low-income customers.
Currently, fewer than a quarter of the nation’s roughly 7,100 farmers markets are set up to use the Electronic Benefit Transfer system, or food stamps. But Kathleen Merrigan, deputy secretary of agriculture, said she hopes these grants will bring another 4,000 of those outlets on line with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
“SNAP participation at farmers’ markets helps provide fresh fruit and vegetables to families and expands the customer base for local farmers – a win-win for agriculture and local communities,” she said in a statement.
The money is to equip these locations with wireless “point of sale” equipment to be used with the food program’s debit cards. Grants range from $5,404 for Delaware, which has 11 markets, to $426,945 for California, with 687.
Kevin Concannon, the undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services, was touring sites around the country this week. On Tuesday, he stopped at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh, N.C.
“We’re on a mission to help Americans eat better,” Concannon said after sampling a vendor’s blueberries. “And what better place than to provide access, better access to folks for farmers markets. And in particular for low-income people.”
North Carolina will receive $109,631.
The Raleigh market has already funded its own wireless system. Still, only four vendors there accept the EBT, though three more are setting up to do so, said Ronnie Best, the market’s manager.
“We’ve been doing it three months and … we don’t even average fifteen sales a week on it right now,” said Helen Wise, owner of Wise Farms in nearby Mount Olive.
Concannon acknowledged that many of these markets are off the beaten path and can be hard – and expensive – for low-income people to access. But he said many are within easy reach of the estimate 46 million Americans who used food stamps.
“But in general, I’ve found that … once you provide access to low-income folks, they’ll come back,” he said. “They can price like the rest of us. … It’s one more step in trying to promote healthier eating for the country.”
Merrigan said SNAP expenditures at farmers markets have risen by 400 percent since 2008.
Betty Tart of Tart Farms said she, too, sees few food stamp customers at her stand. But she said those who do come by are delighted she can accommodate them.
“It makes me feel good,” she said as a large American flag waved overhead. “Because, I have family that has been in that situation. I haven’t, but I’m not too far gone. I could be one day.”
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Comments (50)
apojoe69
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 6:30pmFood stamps cause obesity.
Report Post »dianna9490
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 6:10pmThe Entitlement Society one day will be old – DO THEY REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERN is going to care then? After putting their children through this just because they are ENTITLED exactly what do they think their kids are going to tell them? Are their kids going to be the same way? Have they ever heard the saying: “THE BUCK STOPS HERE” – I am sick and tired of tax dollars paying for the entitltements! If the govern had no money then what would people do? WELL HELLO WE ARE BROKE! WE HAVE NO MONEY SO STOP SUCKING OFF THE SYSTEM JUST BECAUSE OBAMA SAYS YOU DESERVE SOMETHING! Get a darn job and earn what you can afford!
Report Post »South Philly Boy
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 4:24pmFed Govt GETS TOO MUCH MONEY
Report Post »MelyndaLB
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:59pmThe (small) city I live in has an awesome farmers market, Friday through Sunday, smack dab in the middle of town. I just moved here last year so I found it notable that they accept food stamps/cards, whatever. Imagine my surprise when I then found out that supposedly, we are a food desert.
… Can’t be both, right?!?!
Report Post »ColoradoMaverick
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:45pmThis isn’t about helping poor folks get food, it’s about making them totally dependent on government assistance thus ensuring future votes for those you hand out the goodies without regard to how this will implode our economy.
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 4:18pmIf they are going to use food stamps, they should be using them at the farmers markets first. It is better for the local economy and better for their health. They should not be allowed to buy junk food, soda and other garbage with taxpayer provided food assistance.
Report Post »popcorn2009
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:26pmWe had a meeting about starting a farmers market in our small city, I decided it was a bad idea when they said they may want to inspect my small farm to insure that I am producing what I sell. When you take foodstamps, your a taking money from the government so they can tell you what you can and cannot do, once they get their foot in the door they will never go away.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 9:43pmYour right. We have a farmers market in all of the towns around here. Each one is on a different day and the farmers just show up. No cost to them and no government involved. It’s none of their business.
Report Post »RamonPreston
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 12:13amMore and more control.
Report Post »cherigc
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:38pmGreat answer…….how about these people get a damn job. hEres an idea……Give them start up money to grow their own damn garden……………this makes me soooo sick!
Report Post »alwayshappy
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:23pmWhat a joke! What are they trying to prove? If you give folks free food stamps they will use or sell them in anyway they see fit! I would probably do the same! I shop at Walmart and can’t believe what I see folks using foodstamps to buy! And America is paying of it! If able to do so, are these folks looking for work? Or are they afraid of getting their hands dirty? Is it little wonder that those sneaking into our country from Mexico, etc., are so anxious and eager to take their place??
Report Post »TeacherontheRight
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:19pmWhy not save our taxpayer $$ and send them directly to the farms to harvest their own food???!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:37pmThe Government Process does not allow for the consumption of food that has not been through… cleaning, inspection, testing, identification and packaging!
Report Post »jackact
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:11pmThe federal government is on a mission indeed.
Report Post »Through a centrally planned entitlement society the federal government is planning on tipping the scales.
Once the percentage of federal income taxpayers sinks below 50% the mission will be accomplished.
We will become the new eastern Europe.
The very ideal Obama worships.
Now you know why.
So what are you going to do about it America?
TeacherontheRight
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:10pmWhy not save our taxpayer $$ and send the poor to the farms to harvest their ‘own’ food or are they too lazy to do that too?!
Report Post »moreteaplease
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:09pmI have never seen a more out of control government in my life. The government is just strong arm robbing the working taxpayer.
At a time when states and locales are gouging their operating budgets and trimming down their workforce, this is what our federal government sees as such a necessity that it’s worth throwing 4M at?
Idiots!
Report Post »wickerbill
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:06pmJust visited a farmer’s market in Finley, CA (near Lakeport.) last Saturday. EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) was available at nearly every vendor’s site. No food deserts there I guess ;-)
Report Post »pap pap
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:04pm“We’re on a mission to help Americans eat better,”
The only mission they are on is to create more people dependent on the gov’t.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:01pmWhile it beats paying farmers not to farm, I’m still not thrilled; more big government.
Report Post »bigfatslob
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:55pmGhetto folk don’t go to FARMERS MARKET for fresh produce ! What a waste of money pouring over more wasted money.
Report Post »salvawhoray
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:48pmthey get their fruits from liquor stores.
Report Post »MSMOM
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:51pmYou want to fight obesity in this country, make snap cards only good for staple foods, stop the potato chips, little debbies and sodas…Dairy, Meat, Bread, Flour, Fruits, Vegetables if it has NO nutritional value you must purchase it with your own money. It’s very simple to do and would cut down on waste…
Report Post »FromSeaToSea
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:49pm“many of these markets are off the beaten path” Resolved………..New Gov. Program………free skate boards if you qualify….. have to be 50 lbs over.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:26pmDont get me started on the fata@@es that roll around in Government bought scooter. Makes me sick everytime I see those stupid commercials. I want to scream at the fat people riding those scooters in Walmart. They dont need any food for a while!
Report Post »caleejr
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:48pmSo, giving people7x‘s my food budget without asking for anything in return isn’t enough? I see people buying filet minion when I can’t even afford hamburger, while using their EBT card. If you‘re going to give them ’easier access’ to farm fresh food – you need to lower their monthly handout since fresh food is cheaper than what’s in the grocery store.
Report Post »LLATPOH
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:46pmYup – millions of dollars to fund a project that no one will use. Fritos, Twinkies, and Diet Pepsi don‘t exist at a farmer’s market.
Report Post »Nepenthe
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:45pmMy wife and I we happy when we learned that the farmer’s market we went to not only accepted WIC checks but also doubled them in some instances. There just cannot be enough good things said about having fresh fruit from local farmers.
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:39pmHow about having a job to pay for those things on your own rather than expecting everyone else in the country to pay? How about having to buy the 4 / $1.00 canned grean beans like those of us working to pay for that WIC card?
Report Post »Nepenthe
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:53pmI was an E5 in the United States Army at the time trying to take care of a family of 4. We qualified, so we took it. I am not going to apologize for taking advantage of an opportunity for my family to have decent, healthy food to eat.
Report Post »Brooke Lorren
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 5:00pmThis is one of the few good things that the food stamp program has done in a long time… people can use food stamps at McDonald’s in some places (which I completely oppose). I’d rather see people have the opportunity to buy healthy food instead.
Contrary to popular belief, people can still work and receive food stamps. A family of four can earn $2,422 per month and still receive food stamps. My husband is 2/3 of the way towards earning a law degree, is currently working 40 hours a week for the summer, and is only earning half of that amount (and he is not earning minimum wage either). That’s almost $30,000 a year. My friends, who have 9 kids, would be eligible if they earned less than $63,828 a year (I have no reason to believe that they use them, but if the dad were to fall on hard times and lose his job, he’d end up having to get a pretty sweet job to not be eligible).
Isn’t it better for people to buy fruits and vegetables instead of chips and soda? Obviously you’re going to get a percentage of people that prefer to make themselves sick off of junk food, but I‘d rather see tax money go towards healthy foods than to junk that people shouldn’t be eating.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:44pmThat won’t help the farmers markets…unless they sell lottery tickets and malt liquor.
Report Post »moreteaplease
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:53pmlol!!!
Report Post »leasecommander
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:44pmHey government officials, go get yourself a real job and quit wasting my taxpayer dollars !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »Countrygirl1362
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:42pmThey need to make sure they cannot buy junk food and junk drinks with our tax dollars. Makes me angry every time I get behinds someone at grocery store with cart full of cookies, chips and sodas and they pay with a food stamp card.
Report Post »LLATPOH
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:47pmDon’t worry, the upcoming healthcare “reform” will ensure that you eat right…. or else.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:02pmmakes us even madder –when we are waiting with our hamburger and buns– in back of Big Mama using her food stamps at the check-out and she is walking out with $1200 worth of steaks and lobsters and shrimp, and she is blinged out with gold & gems rings on every finger, and sitting there out parked in the FireLane is Big MacDaddy in his powder blue Escalade and his gold teeth and canary yellow pimp suit. we’ve seen that pair more than once. just disgusting.
Report Post »RamonPreston
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 12:15amIn the FEMA camps you will what they feed you and when they feed you.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:40pmWell thank you!!! I was so woried about these feckless governmeant t eat suckers getting healthy foods! Holy crap when will this food fest for the lazy stop??????
Feed them basic bread and water to motivate them to get off thei sorry a##es and find a job! This is beyond stupid and is theft of taxpayers money! THEFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »Nepenthe
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:43pmHow very anti-life of you.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:09pmit’s worse than theft, it is these filthy commie democrats deliberately killing America by enslaving more and more people to this democrat communist government plantation, by giving them ‘free food’ . food stamps should be for oatmeal and wheat bread, potatoes, maybe generic hot dogs and milk, PERIOD. Americans lived off of a lot less in the 1930s.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:22pmNot anti life…anti lazy and anti theft…How about that dumba@@??
Report Post »Nepenthe
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:55pmIt is anti-life because you do not recognize the basic fact that most of these people are already working. Taking care of a family/household of three or four is virutally impossibe in this country on anything less than 15$/hour.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:39pmall it is, is making sure the government has listed all of the small farmers and their vendors. this wanting the food sellers to be able to service all the democrat pantation enslaved is one more way to grow that secret communist list of who is who —–and if they are “USEFUL” to the communist masters or not.
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