In September, Newark’s farmers’ market operators visited a farmstand in Passaic run by City Green, an organization dedicated to facilitating the establishment of urban farms and gardens in northern New Jersey’s cities to enrich the lives of inner city residents, while cultivating education in public health, nutrition and the environment. Newark’s market operators got the chance to learn how City Green implemented the acceptance of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps) by using Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Wireless equipment.
Newark’s market operators learned that at the Passaic farmstand which operates outside Passaic’s City Hall on Friday, hundreds of residents have the opportunity to “Eat Better Tonight” with locally-grown produce while the farmstand has been known to generate $1200 of revenue in two hours. City Green attributes sales and promotion to the redemption of SNAP as well as the Farmers Market Nutrition Program which provides Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) recipients and seniors benefits to purchase locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs. City Green also works with Wholesome Wave to provide an incentive called the Double Value Coupon Program that matches the amount spent by recipients of SNAP, WIC, and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program at the markets.
Did you know that last year ~69,000 Newark residents received SNAP? And according to the USDA headquarters $85 million in SNAP benefits were redeemed in Newark? Newark has approximately 360 retailers authorized to receive SNAP benefits. Farmers could and should directly benefit from this potential revenue stream while Newark’s residents who receive federal nutrition benefits can enjoy more places to buy fresh, locally-grown produce affordably.
In May the US Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced an initiative to increase the number of farmers markets participating in SNAP while reducing administrative burden of processing these benefits. As part of a larger and ongoing effort to provide low-income individuals and families greater access to fresh and healthy food, while supporting American farmers and local economies, the USDA appropriated $4 million to increase the number of farmers’ markets participating in SNAP. The State of New Jersey’s allocation was $91, 000 for new markets, markets with multi-stall vendors/producers/farmers that had not been authorized to accept SNAP before November 18, 2011. Newark has three markets that fit that definition. Tuesday’s market at UMDNJ, Washington Commons market on Wednesdays, and Newark Downtown District’s market on Thursdays. With the assistance of NJ Food & Nutrition Service, the Food Policy Director worked with these markets and the Greater Newark Conservancy to all became authorized to receive SNAP this summer! Washington Commons was the first market to receive it’s EBT wireless equipment through this program and welcome SNAP recipients through the last day of the market on October 31, 2012. The Greater Newark Conservancy also accepts SNAP at their farmstand locations.
City Green has two farms that produce a variety of organic produce that is sold in their Paterson and Clifton Farmer’s Market; to Senior Citizens through our Senior Mobile Markets; and, is donated to local food assistance programs. Thanks to Jennifer Papa, Amy Jolin, Jasmine Moreano, and Tammy Toad Ryan for sharing their time and expertise with us. Newark’s markets and market operators look forward to providing residents with the opportunity to increase their fresh, local food consumption while supporting the viability of small and midsize farmers who come to our markets. For more information, contact Elizabeth Reynoso, Food Policy Director at (973) 733-4828.
City of Newark - Office of Sustainability 