Grant will allow food stamp recipients to shop at farmers’ markets

UNH Cooperative’s Extension Nutrition Connections program has won a $31,000 grant from the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture, Research and Education Program (NESARE) that will encourage food stamp recipients to use their electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards at three farmers’ markets this summer. Additional funds from the Nutrition Connections program will support two additional markets in the project (see list of markets below).

Nutrition Connections’ food security coordinator Helen Costello says the grant will allow shoppers at markets in Nashua . Manchester, Sanbornton, Enfield and Laconia this summer to use their EBT cards to buy locally-grown fruits and vegetables, lean meats, poultry, eggs, dairy products and whole grain breads while they enjoy the social aspects of market days.

“When the electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card replaced paper food stamp coupons in 1998, farmers’ markets and many farm stands didn’t have the infrastructure to accept the cards, inadvertently excluding food stamp customers from these markets,” says Costello. “The NESARE grant will allow the pilot sites to bring the necessary telephone and electricity lines to the markets and remove other barriers that have prevented market vendors from accepting food stamps. This summer, food stamp customers can bring their EBT cards to the UNHCE kiosk at participating markets and have them authorized to receive market scrip to make food purchases.”

Food stamp project joins existing Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program

The project enhances the benefits already available through the USDA Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, which provides coupons at the start of each market season that let qualifying low-income families and seniors buy fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets. The ability to use the EBT card at the markets will extend the purchasing power of families and seniors.

“Studies show that seniors who participate in the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program say they eat more fruits and vegetables than they would without the program and that they plan to eat more fruits and vegetables throughout the year,” says Costello. “Also, families who introduce their children to frequent exposure to fruits and vegetables help instill healthy eating habits early and help reduce the risk of nutrition-related diseases later in life, especially obesity and Type 2 diabetes.”

Costello credits George Hamilton, Extension agricultural educator in Hillsborough County and Jack Potter, director of the New Hampshire Farmers’ Market Association with enthusiastically supporting the idea and promotion it vigorously among growers.

UNH Extension Master Gardeners and nutritionists from the Nutrition Connections program will present food production and cooking demonstrations at each of the five participating markets to educate the public about food production and introduce new ideas for using farm fresh foods.

At the end of the three-year pilot Costello plans to develop a how-to manual for market managers that will help the food stamp program grow to include farmers’ markets statewide.