For My Local Peeps on Food Stamps: A Fantastic Way to Get Fresh Food

[liz_marcs]

The City of Boston is encouraging people on food stamps to "buy local" by doubling the purchasing power of their food stamps at 14 farmers' markets in the city. (Boston has a total of 22 farmers' markets that run through the summer.)

When food stamp recipients swipe their benefit cards on portable credit card readers at the participating farmers' markets, they will receive up to $20 in vouchers — called Boston's Bounty Bucks — by spending $10 worth of food stamps.

The list of Boston-based participating farmers' markets can be found here. (WARNING: PDF file)

Boston Globe article here.

If you think this is a good idea like I do, don't read the comments. The idiots will only piss you off.

Comments

[firefly124]

That is absolutely made of awesome. So often people on food stamps end up depending more on packaged foods than fresh, at least I see that a lot in my clients. This is definitely a policy I'd like to see CT copycat on.

[liz_marcs]

According to the article, there are other municipalities around the country doing it as well. So while Boston's one of the first, it's definitely not the first.

I'm actually surprised that this is not already happening in CT. My late uncle was a farmer and owned cattle in CT, and I know there there's quite a lot of farmland, especially in and around Woodstock. You'd think CT would be all over this like white on rice because it's a nice win-win: helps the food stamp recipients (especially in these hard times) and helps the local farmers.

[firefly124]

If Norwich is, I don't know about it, but there is usually a farmer's market at the Southeastern Mental Health Association. So now that I know this is happening some places, I'll check with them to see if it's happening around here. Thanks for the tip!

[dragovianknight]

That's brilliant. One of the hardest things about being poor is eating healthy, because pre-packaged crap is so much cheaper than fresh food.

Erm, and yes, I do realize I'm preaching to the choir about that.

[mllesatine]

I read the first few comments. What is wrong with these people? No fucking solidarity with their fellow citizens.

It's a good idea anyway.