Food stamp use at city Greenmarkets has skyrocketed, an encouraging development that could help bridge the nutrition gap, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said last week.
In the first two weeks of July 2007, $2,121 worth of food was purchased from Greenmarkets using food stamps, according to the City Council.
This year, $4,210 in food stamp purchases have been made in the first two weeks – a nearly 100 percent increase over last year.
“As word is spreading about food stamp access at Greenmarkets, we’re seeing families come out and shop in record numbers. This dramatic increase is further proof that New Yorkers are hungry for healthy food options,” Quinn said.
Over 14 Greenmarkets are equipped with electronic benefits transfer (EBT) stations, allowing food stamps to be used to purchase locally grown produce and other items.
Since 2006, the Council has provided funding for EBT terminals, signage, community outreach and dedicated staff members to operate the machines. That year, the Council launched its Food Today, Healthy Tomorrow campaign, an initiative aimed at increasing food stamp enrollment.
In 2000, food stamps transitioned from paper coupons to paperless EBT cards. As a result, many farmers’ markets, which operate without electricity or phone lines, became unable to accept food stamps.
EBT scanners in Brooklyn are located at Greenmarkets in Fort Greene, at Washington Park and Dekalb Avenue; in Sunset Park, at Fourth Avenue between 59th and 60th streets; and at Grand Army Plaza, at the northwest entrance to Prospect Park.
“It’s a myth that farmers' markets cannot succeed in low income communities,” said Greenmarket director Michael Hurwitz. “Greenmarket is committed to ensuring that all New Yorkers have access to the most healthful, most delicious foods.”
Families that qualify for federal food stamp aid often live in neighborhoods with limited access to the nutritious food they need to support a healthy lifestyle, Quinn noted.
“The Council is proud to have done its part to help make sure all New Yorkers can get fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables regardless of income,” Quinn added.
The total amount of food stamps used per year at the 13 EBT accessible Greenmarkets around the city has grown from about $1,000 in 2005, to $14,000 in 2006, and by 2007 topped $40,000, Council data show.
