Cities in California’s Imperial Valley Want More Farmers’ Markets with SNAP Capabilities

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El Centro’s eastside is considered a food desert, having limited access to fresh food close by. Farmers’ markets in Imperial Valley are hoping to eliminate this problem.

One farmers’ market on the eastside, run by Neighborhood House of Calexico, is also the first and only in the Valley that allows patrons to use Electronic Benefit Transfer debit cards. The cards are issued to low-income residents who qualify for government assistance (SNAP), previously known as food stamps. Residents and farmers in Imperial Valley hope to see other cities and towns accepting SNAP at their farmers’ markets.

The city of Holtville is considering implementing the use of EBT cards at their recently launched farmers markets. Any decision to do so would ultimately have to be approved by the city council, said City Clerk and farmers market manager Glyn Snyder. The Brawley Chamber of Commerce is also in the initial process of establishing a farmers market. Local farmers markets managers as well as farmers can become certified to accept Women, Infant and Children fruit and vegetable vouchers through the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. Currently no local farmers market accepts WIC vouchers, said Irma Martinez, WIC program director.

Those interested in becoming certified can apply through the state Department of Public Health’s website. The state is also in the process of allowing EBT cards to be used at farmers markets certified to accept WIC vouchers and hopes to have a system in place by 2020, Martinez said.

The desire for change is there. It’s up to the community to come together and get more farmers’ markets in the Valley and get more of them approved to take SNAP benefits. That way everyone, regardless of income, can buy healthy, fresh food for their families.