“EBT Cards Expand at Virginia's Farmers Markets” |
| EBT Cards Expand at Virginia's Farmers Markets Posted: 07 Feb 2011 06:48 PM PST This year more low-income families will have access to locally grown, healthy food at farmers markets around Virginia. Through a program with the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), people on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, formally known as food stamps, will be able to use Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards at the farmers markets. According to VDSS almost one out of every seven Virginia's received SNAP benefits at some point during 2010. The Harrisonburg Farmers Market actually started accepting EBT cards for SNAP qualifiers in June 2010. They say the response has been tremendous and it is important for all people in the community to have access to the healthy, local options. "I had one woman this summer come by with her SNAP card and it was just a really touching conversation. She was telling me about how she's been wanting to shop at the market for as long as she can remember and now she finally can," says Josie Showalter, the Harrisonburg Farmers Market Manger. Through a Wholesome Wave Grant, the Harrisonburg Farmers Market also matches up to $10 in purchases for those using their EBT cards. Markets around Virginia will have the opportunity to apply to partake in the program by applying for a wireless point-of-sale device. Showalter says from June 2010 through Sept. 2010 the response increased every month. © Copyright 2011 WHSV / Gray Television Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Content Keyword RSS To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 comments:
Post a Comment