(Springfield, MO)--Some vendors at a farmer's market in Springfield have seen their sales to EBT card users double in recent months. Food stamp recipients are finding it easier to buy local fresh produce.
You might think of farmer's markets as a place to pay a premium for fresh meats and vegetables.
You'd probably think the clientele at those markets would have higher incomes, but at least one farmer's market in Springfield accepts EBT cards and food stamps. In fact, more families are using government aid to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables than past years.
Cherri Middleton said she and her family started raising all natural meats and produce because they were concerned about what they were eating.
"We just want to raise a quality product," Middleton said. "It's natural, the way it was meant to be raised."
Middleton said sales are increasing at her stand at the greater Springfield farmer's market.
"It's pretty good. We have a good turnout," she said.
Brad Gray manages the market. He says one surprising booster for the farmer's market this comes from customers purchasing goods using money from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, called SNAP
"They've identified that they can find that here," Gray said.
Gray can easily track how much SNAP money comes into the market, because customers on snap use their cards to buy special tokens they can exchange for food.
"We have kept track...and we've noticed our SNAP benefits have doubled."
Gray said SNAP purchases give them more than eleven thousand dollars worth of business.
"The ones that are using us regularly now are buying more."
That's a big help for farmers like Middleton's family, but it also means that low income families in Springfield are purchasing organic and naturally raised produce.
"We're just wanting people to eat healthy," Middleton said, "regardless of your income level."
You might think of farmer's markets as a place to pay a premium for fresh meats and vegetables.
You'd probably think the clientele at those markets would have higher incomes, but at least one farmer's market in Springfield accepts EBT cards and food stamps. In fact, more families are using government aid to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables than past years.
Cherri Middleton said she and her family started raising all natural meats and produce because they were concerned about what they were eating.
"We just want to raise a quality product," Middleton said. "It's natural, the way it was meant to be raised."
Middleton said sales are increasing at her stand at the greater Springfield farmer's market.
"It's pretty good. We have a good turnout," she said.
Brad Gray manages the market. He says one surprising booster for the farmer's market this comes from customers purchasing goods using money from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, called SNAP
"They've identified that they can find that here," Gray said.
Gray can easily track how much SNAP money comes into the market, because customers on snap use their cards to buy special tokens they can exchange for food.
"We have kept track...and we've noticed our SNAP benefits have doubled."
Gray said SNAP purchases give them more than eleven thousand dollars worth of business.
"The ones that are using us regularly now are buying more."
That's a big help for farmers like Middleton's family, but it also means that low income families in Springfield are purchasing organic and naturally raised produce.
"We're just wanting people to eat healthy," Middleton said, "regardless of your income level."
