NEWARK, Ohio — The Canal Market District Farmers Market is continuing its partnership with the statewide program Veggie SNAPS during the 2017 season. Veggie SNAPS provides low-income customers who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program with matching dollars to shop for fresh fruits and vegetables at local farmers’ markets. The program is intended to make healthier food choices more accessible to low-income customers. More than half of those participating in the Veggie SNAPS program said they got most of their fruits and vegetables from the farmers’ market last year.
“Healthy eating is so important for health and well-being, and we believe that everyone should have access to the best produce available, regardless of income,” said Canal Market District Director Jazz Glastra. “This program helps people eat better and stretch their budgets by providing extra resources specifically for fresh produce.”
To participate in the program customers can come to the the Market Director’s table under the main pavilion at the Canal Market District and swipe their SNAP card in exchange for wooden tokens. The Veggie SNAPS program matches up to 10 dollars per day. For example, if a customer uses 10 dollars in their SNAP benefits they can get another 10 dollars worth of tokens to use at the farmers’ market for fresh fruits and vegetables. The customer would then have a total of 20 dollars to spend at the market for fresh, healthy food.
In 2016, the Canal Market District was one of the leading markets in the Central Ohio region participating in the Veggie Snaps program. The Canal Market District provided over $2,000 in matching through Veggie SNAPS in just the last two months of the farmers market. The program will run through the entire 2017 season.
“We want to remind people that this program is here for them all summer this year and to take advantage of it,” Glastra said.
Canal Market District’s efforts to make healthy food accessible also extend to the state’s WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program which begins July 7. With this program, WIC participants receive five-dollar coupons with which to purchase authorized fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs at farmers’ markets and farm stands. In partnership with the Licking County Health Department and the Creating Healthy Communities Program, the farmers’ market accepts the WIC FMNP coupons. To use the coupons at the farmers’ market customers can hand them directly to the vendor to purchase products.
The Veggie SNAPS and WIC programs are also beneficial for the local economy. These programs help expand vendors’ customer base and provide revenue for local growers. In addition to helping low income shoppers, Veggie Snaps and WIC makes healthy local farming more financially sustainable for local growers. The Veggie SNAPS and WIC programs will help ensure the long-term success of the farmers market for downtown Newark.
— Canal District Farmers Market