Double-Up the Healthy Produce at Lawrence, KS Farmers’ Markets

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Latinos make-up 41 percent of Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and 15 percent of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants. Lawmakers in Douglas County, Kansas, where access to fresh, healthy foods is a struggle for many low-income families, want to make it easier to use WIC and SNAP benefits to buy healthy foods at local farmers’ markets.

City of Lawrence and Douglas County commissioners voted to provide $10,600 each to help fund the dollar for dollar match during the 2014 Farmers Market Season. This means that a family would come to the farmers’ market, scan their benefits card for $25, and receive $50 in tokens to be used at the market to buy tasty, healthy produce like lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries, and more.

The pilot program is set to begin the second week of June. Those with SNAP benefits can partake in the program on Tuesdays and Saturdays at the Downtown Farmer’s Market, and on Thursday’s at the Cottin’s Hardware Farmer’s Market.

After this season, the program will be reviewed and officials will decide its future.

Read more about the new program in the news.