Nation’s farmers markets offer healthy food alternatives for poor

ATLANTA – Farmers markets and farm stands in Georgia and across America are helping low-income consumers gain access to healthy fresh fruits and vegetables, as an increasing number of farmers markets are being authorized to redeem Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, according to Agriculture Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services’ Under Secretary Kevin Concannon, who offered comments last week during National Farmers Market Week.

“Expanding access to the wonderful array of fresh produce and other farm-fresh products available at America’s farmers markets and farm stands is a top USDA priority,” Concannon said. “It’s a key part of our efforts to improve the diet and health of all Americans – in particular, those participating in the nation’s nutrition assistance programs. It also helps support local and regional food systems.”

Since 2008, the number of SNAP-authorized national farmers markets and direct marketing farmers has grown dramatically, to more than 7,000 — surpassing nine times the number that were around when the Obama Administration took office. In Georgia alone, there are 272 SNAP-authorized farmers markets and direct marketing farm outlets.

“Farmers markets and direct marketing farmers are a lifeline to healthy nutrition in low-income areas, because many of these outlets operate in neighborhoods with few — if any — supermarkets or grocery stores,” Concannon said.

SNAP redemptions at those nationwide outlets totaled about $19.4 million last year, an increase of 600 percent over 2008. In Georgia, SNAP redemptions at farmers markets and direct marketing farms grew from $49,400 in 2008 to more than $434,700 last year, providing an economic boost to the community.

In a recent USDA study, almost 80 percent of farmers market shoppers mentioned access to high-quality fruits and vegetables as the reason for shopping at one of the outlets. Recently, USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion added to the charge by launching MyPlate, MyState — encouraging families to learn more about healthy foods grown and produced in their state. National Farmers Market Week put MyPlate, MyState into motion by connecting American families with locally produced, healthy foods from their community.

SNAP is one of 15 nutrition assistance programs designed to work together to comprise an American nutrition safety net, including WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. Those programs also help provide access to healthy local food available at farmers markets. USDA nutrition assistance programs touch the lives of one in four Americans each year.

For more information, including a list of SNAP-authorized markets, visit: http://www.fns.usda.gov/ebt/snap-and-farmers-markets online. For a nationwide list of farmers markets, visit: https://www.ams.usda.gov/local-food-directories/farmersmarkets.

USDA’s support for farmers markets and commitment to increasing access to healthy foods contribute to USDA’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative, which coordinates the Department’s work to develop strong local and regional food systems. During the seven-plus years of the Obama Administration, USDA has invested close to $1 billion in 40,000 local food-related projects on farms and in communities across the country.