Farmers' markets provide one avenue for increasing access to healthy foods--especially fruits and vegetables. For instance, instead of shopping at local corner stores that often sell an abundance of junk food, the line of reasoning begins, individuals living in "food deserts"can purchase fruits and vegetables from local farmers' markets. One way to encourage the consumption of healthy foods available at farmers' markets is by providing for the use of SNAP, or "food stamps," at farmer's markets, which many farmer's markets around the country are beginning to do.
According to the L.A. Times, the "market match program" in California, a program that serves SNAP recipients, served over 38,000 families just last year. The program offers an additional incentive to SNAP recipients, providing $5 to those already spending $10 or more at a farmers' market.
The Agricultural Act of 2014 (H.R. 2642), general known as the 2014 Farm Bill, provides funding and creates programs that support the use of SNAP benefits at Farmer's Markets. Section 4011 of the Farm Bill paves the way for the modernization of SNAP transfers through providing for the development of mobile and internet transfer methods.
Related, Section 4012 opens the door for SNAP recipients to use their benefits to purchase Community -Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares.
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