Politics & Government
Low-Income Access to Farmer's Markets Gets Boost
Councilmembers Mary Cheh, Jack Evans, and Yvette Alexander allocate $200,000 in local funds to support nutrition program.
Low-income residents in the District will have more buying power at area farmers markets thanks to an allocation of $200,000 to expand and strengthen farmers’ market nutrition incentive programs in the fiscal year 2014 budget.
Councilmembers Mary Cheh, Jack Evans, and Yvette Alexander pushed for the set aside during the budget process, according to a press release from D.C. Farmers Market Collaborative (FMC) and DC Greens.
“This money will leverage the District’s existing farmers’ market infrastructure to play a greater role in healing the city’s health crisis," Lauren Shweder Biel, executive director of D.C. Greens, said in a statement.
Starting next spring, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as Food Stamps) recipients can purchase $10 worth of fresh, local produce from participating farmers’ markets with just $5 worth of SNAP benefits.
“This investment will help residents struggling to purchase more healthy foods on a tight budget,” said Alex Ashbrook, director of D.C. Hunger Solutions, in a statement.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
