More Farmers Markets Accept Food Stamps

With more families turning to food stamps as food prices increases, more farmers markets are accepting them. The Farmers' Market Federation of NY says that food stamp sales have grown to $90,000 in 2007 from $3,000 in 2002 (helped in part by wireless technology that allows the farmers to accept payments by food stamp debit card); executive director Diane Eggert told the AP, "We're already outpacing 2007, so I think we're going to see significant growth." One Brooklyn resident hopes to use his food stamps on fresher produce from the farmers, "When you shop at the grocery store, it's very limited-they don't have a very wide selection. I think if we had a farmers market, I think we would shop more, and eat more produce."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in Food on August 25, 2008 12:17 PM

Comments [rss]

Future Taliban

yes, but do they take euro?

JacqueMehoff

I hope the technology is reliable.

the last time I tried to use foodstamps at whole foods it didn't take. no reason why because it all goes to the same clearing house, some big bank.

Most of Chinatown accepts foodstamps, it's just quicker to pay cash.

jink

produce is usually a good bit cheaper at the farmer's market than it is at the key foods where i live. unless you count things like heirloom tomatoes and specialty items, you can get very good deals there.

Jen Chung

The crazy thing is that I feel like chain supermarkets cost a lot more than what I see at the greenmarkets or some other stores. For instance, there was an A&P-turned-Food Emporium that charged easily 70% more for a container of yogurt, and it seemed to operate that way because it was the only store in the neighborhood.

I agree that Chinatown has the best deals for lots of foods, but I don't think those stalls take food stamps. It's great that the technology is being rolled out and there's a way to give people on food stamps access to fresher, healthier food.

Rocknrope

Given the higher cost of food at farmer's markets, I would think that those who need food stamps to stretch their dollars more would avoid them and use them in the regular supermarket.

The best option for cheap produce, The Chinatown in Manhattan and Avenue U in Brooklyn. I don't know if they accept stamps though, but the cheapo chinese know how to stretch that dolla.

Kojak

A little something I picked up from stuffblackpeoplehate. Its a rant but it speaks the truth.

"The single most infuriating thing about farmers’ markets are the white hipster yuppie twenty-something douchebags trying to sound intelligent by interrogating the vendors about their food. When these assholes, wearing the requisite hipster uniform*, saunter up to salt-of-the-earth farmers it’s actually quite entertaining to watch said farmer’s visibly restrain themselves from punching the hipsters in the face."