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SNAP out of it: Keep farmers' markets open to the poor
By DAILY NEWS EDITORIAL BOARD
JUL 15, 2018 | 4:00 AM
Come the end of this month, mid-season for their fresh and healthy bounty, farmers markets nationwide will have to turn away low-income shoppers who rely on SNAP benefits.
Why? Good question, having something to do with the U.S. Department of Agriculture dropping a contractor that sponsors the niche iOS app the markets rely on to process payments.
Get it together, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, and get to the bottom of this debacle. Meanwhile, New York and other states left stranded ought to barnraise a stopgap solution.
Most farmers markets around here are what I term "designer veggies". Who in their right mind would pay a dollar for a beet? There are as many chakra, Rolfing, aura booths as there are food vendors.
I understand it about as much as I get the whole $5.00 coffee shops
Most farmers markets around here are what I term "designer veggies". Who in their right mind would pay a dollar for a beet? There are as many chakra, Rolfing, aura booths as there are food vendors.
I understand it about as much as I get the whole $5.00 coffee shops
It’s also support for NY state agriculture which I think is one of the prongs that will be crucial for turning around upstate’s economies. Ideally more initial support is given until at least the demand is high enough for the agricultural businesses there can achieve greater economies of scale and efficiency.
Yes, that's the latest food buzzwords. Artisanal bread is another one.
Instead of a "farmer's market", I go to an actual farm stand at a farm where they grow stuff. Of course, not everyone has access to them, but it's nice when you do.
About ten years ago, a friend of mine worked for a program run by Rutgers that provided education to poor parents through the schools about nutrition and provided access to fresh vegetables and fruit for a dollar. Don't know if that program still exists. She took another, better-paying job eventually.
ETA: Just realized I'm in the NYC forum, not the NJ forum, but I wonder if they have similar programs in the city.
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