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Farmers’ markets are a great place to buy fresh, often locally-grown healthy produce. However, farmers’ markets sometimes have a reputation for being pricey and not welcoming to low-income folks.
Programs across the country are changing this by allowing SNAP participants to use their food benefits at markets and some markets are gaining the capability to double SNAP participants’ dollars when they buy fresh, healthy produce.
The Montclair Farmers’ Market in New Jersey is the latest market to offer better access to healthy foods.
In addition to accepting SNAP payments through the area agencies Partners for Health and City Green, the market will match all purchases made with the supplemental food programs via its “Double Bucks” initiative up to $10, meaning that an individual using SNAP or another subsidy as payment would receive $20 worth of produce for $10.
According to an article in North Jersey News, Partners for Health’s motivation in assisting Montclair’s market is based on knowledge that healthy eating protects people from preventable diseases and that research that similar programs help low-income households increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Latinos make up 19% of New Jersey residents and over 7% of folks living in Montclair.
By The Numbers
1
Supermarket
for every Latino neighborhood, compared to 3 for every non-Latino neighborhood
