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Share On Social!
14% of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits recipients are Latino families. Many of these families in the Columbus, Ohio area will soon be able to buy more fresh fruits and vegetables at their local farmers’ market, thanks to new funds from the County.
The Franklin County commissioners are expected to approve spending $10,000 to help low-income county residents buy goods at local farmers markets. Modeled after a program that began last year at the Downtown Pearl Market, the program will allow people who receive SNAP benefits, to use them at six area farmers markets, including Pearl Market.
The program, called Veggie SNAPs, also will provide a matching amount of up to $10 for buying fresh local food with food-stamp benefits. Benefits are loaded onto an electronic debit card. Recipients who take their card to one of the participating farmers markets will be able to debit $10 from it to receive $20 in tokens to spend at the market. They can get the match for each visit and use it multiple times a week if they attend different farmers markets, according to an article in the Columbus Dispatch.
The number of farmers’ markets across the country that are implementing these “double-your-dollars” programs is growing, giving everyone better access to healthy, affordable foods.
By The Numbers
1
Supermarket
for every Latino neighborhood, compared to 3 for every non-Latino neighborhood
