Some shoppers at participating farmers markets are cashing in with a program that allows them to double the value of their federal food stamps.
One of those farmers markets is the Downtown Bridgeport Farmers Market, where Edna Fink used the incentive program to stock up on some produce. "You can't beat that, you really can't so I'm very happy," said Fink.
Under the program, people who qualify for federal food stamps pay for their goods with their electronic benefits cards. They will then get the same dollar amount in tokens to use at participating farmers markets that day or in the future. Vendors are reimbursed for the tokens by the non-profit group Wholesome Wave, which is funded by grants and donations.
"We really believe there's an opportunity here for these under-served community residents to become the heroes of a changed food system by introducing affordability," said Michel Nischan, CEO of Wholesome Wave.
The program, founded in 2007, is now available to shoppers at farmers markets in six Connecticut communities and in 29 other states. Wholesome Wave sends data from the program to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the hopes of landing even more funding.
"We don't have to add, take any more money out of a taxpayer's pocket but just re-purpose some of the funds that might be able to be used a little bit better to incentivize healthier food choices, reduce health care costs, and change the food system," said Nischan.
