Topeka — A record number of Kansans are receiving food assistance, and there is an increasing number of farmers’ markets.
So some people think it’s only natural to increase access to those farmers’ markets to those who receive assistance and use the electronic benefits transfer card, or EBT for short.
“People have the opportunity to explore local foods and get excited about trying different things,” said Mercedes Taylor-Puckett, coordinator of the farmers’ market project for the Kansas Rural Center.
The problem is that when paper food stamps were converted to the debit-type EBT card, many of those receiving food assistance couldn’t shop at farmers’ markets because those markets lacked equipment to process EBT purchases.
That is slowly changing. The Lawrence Farmers’ Market was one of the first where shoppers could use the EBT card. Now about 10 of the 84 markets statewide are wired to accept the card.
The number is expected to grow as more and more Kansans turn to the federal food assistance program.
Approximately 260,000 Kansans receive food assistance now, which is a 27 percent increase over last year. In 2009, there was $263 million paid out in Kansas for food assistance.
And the economic impact of those expenses rolls throughout the agricultural community. If more people using EBT cards bought produce at farmers’ markets, then maybe more farmers would get in the business of growing fruits and vegetables, supporters of farmers’ markets said.
Paul Johnson, with Kansas Catholic Charities and a market gardener who provides produce to more than 300 households in Lawrence and the Kansas City area, said there is a lot of potential in the state to increase access to farmers’ markets and increase fruit and vegetable production in Kansas.
“In 1910, Kansas had 140,000 acres in fruits and vegetables but less than 8,000 today,” Johnson said. “Kansans import 97 percent of the $525 million in produce purchased annually in the state,” he said.
Johnson has asked a legislative committee to consider studying the issue of expanding local food production in Kansas after the legislative session ad-journs.
Comments
catbird 3 years, 3 months ago
Fresh produce is not a good dollar value? So you'd rather someone on food stamps spend five bucks on a gallon of ice cream than five bucks on broccoli and tomatoes? Fresh, local produce is always a good dollar value. Why wouldn't you want to eat something that was picked less than 24 hours ago? It's more nutritious and it benefits local people and the local economy.
shleppy 3 years, 3 months ago
how bout we let people shop wherever they want. informed, are u or have u been on govt. assistance? you seem to be speaking for those that are.
George_Braziller 3 years, 3 months ago
Those "fresh" tomatoes at the grocery store for $1.00 were probably picked two or three weeks eariler when they were still green. They may be red(ish) but they have the nutrition you could get from licking a postage stamp.
You'd be better off buying canned tomatoes which were picked right before they were processed.
samsamsamsam 3 years, 3 months ago
Informed, huh? you seem to be anything BUT on this particular issue.
That 3 dollars stays in kansas, paying a farmer who is using that money to make kansas a more sustainable and independently prosperous place to live.
Our obsession with finding the cheapest alternative has the end result of shipping all of our jobs overseas. Buying 1$ bags of tomatoes may put food on your table, but it is encouraging a system that is devoid of the kinds of jobs that allowed America to prosper.
I will pay a little more for my stuff if it keeps my country going. I don't see the money saved in the wal-mart world as money saved - I see it as money that is not being spent at that very second to take care of the healthcare and welfare of the workers that are being underpaid.
McDonalds is cheap - medical bills aren't. Vegetable's are comparatively expensive, especially local ones, but a healthy life is absolutely priceless.
smitty 3 years, 3 months ago
For 1/2 to one-third the cost you can buy local grown produce at Checkers and they take cash or EBT cards.
Better yet. Grow you own in containers on the patio or dig a garden in the yard and save money. Seeds are available now to start the transplants for most everything due to go into the gound in six to eight weeks.
Now that is affordable local produce.
eatlocalfood 3 years, 3 months ago
Local food and farmers market produce isn't always more expensive than what can be purchased in a supermarket. In fact, it is often competitively priced and a superior product to boot! Research conducted last summer by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture shows few differences in price for Iowa-grown vegetables, eggs and meat when compared to similar non-local products. You can read a brief description of this study here: http://www.ksfarmersmarkets.org/news/leopold-center-study-compares-local-non-local-food-prices Farmers markets across Kansas offer fruits and vegetables at different price points. Buying in season produce is quite affordable. And speaking of tax dollars, as Paul points out, “Kansans import 97 percent of the $525 million in produce purchased annually in the state.” Why send $500 million of our food dollars to Florida, Texas, California and Mexico when farmers could be paying taxes (sales, employment, social security...) right here?
samsamsamsam 3 years, 3 months ago
such a sad position to take. so incredibly selfish.
flux 3 years, 3 months ago
Boring Topic and conversation
Mariposa 3 years, 3 months ago
flux, yes, actually it is. People who are desperately concerned with what total strangers eat are a mystery to me. As a KU student I meet the criteria for the Vision Card. I appreciate having that money to spend on food, and it will be spent at Walmart. Honestly! My tomatoes are better than your tomatoes? Let's all meet halfway between the Farmer's Market and Walmart and have a tomato fight. KU students take the number 11 bus to Walmart. Walmart rocks!
overplayedhistory 3 years, 3 months ago
flux (Anonymous) says…
Boring Topic and conversation
read something else and go eat a donut.
overplayedhistory 3 years, 3 months ago
We want cheap oil and cheap food, neither exists. You have been conditioned to believe in a cost of food that is not representative of its actual cost to produce.
When shrinking middle class dollars have been funneled into subsidies for farms to sell less than the cost to produce, the whole system is thrown off and has been for a long time. What you buy at market is representative of what it costs to produce.
flux 3 years, 3 months ago
Go eat a donut..... good one
cthulhu_4_president 3 years, 3 months ago
samsamsamsam (Anonymous) says…
such a sad position to take. so incredibly selfish.
I know!! Stupid poor people for wanting to do silly things like EAT every day. How silly of them! Don't they know that how they use the little resources they have could help US?!?!
Or maybe.......just maybe.....it's a little harder to think of the common good when you and yours are starving. Just maybe?
HoneyDew 3 years, 3 months ago
As a parent and a food stamp recipient, I am extremely grateful that I can purchase local produce at the Farmer's Market with my EBT card. Not all poor people want to eat junk food. So many people with the funds to feed their children healthy foods opt for McDonald's and foods with absolutely no nutritional value. I know of plenty of wealthy children being raised on McNuggets and soda pop, parents completely clueless about the chemicals and additives that they are putting in their children's bodies. I agree that local produce is more expensive, but "you get what you pay for" often rings true. Sure I buy less food than many other food stamp recipients, but our lifestyle means less doctor visits, we stay fuller longer on nutrient packed foods, and honestly nobody NEEDS ice cream, candy, soda pop, processed foods, etc. Your body should be your temple. So I will continue to put the "fancy" brocolli on the table, and if I didn't get food stamps I would spend my paycheck on it. There is a HUGE difference in the nutrient value between a grocery store and a Farmer's Market. This isn't important to everyone I understand but it is to my family. Everyone should visit the Farmer's Market, it's awesome :)
lurn 3 years, 3 months ago
I like turtles
overplayedhistory 3 years, 3 months ago
If you evaluate the cost on an essential nutrient to dollar ratio, then farmers market is the better value. Inevitably everyone will have to learn the real value of food, shelter & transportation.
There will either have to be more people with money, or more people with calluses on their hands actually producing goods. Eventually China will stop loaning money as will everyone else, and our grandparents fortunes are gone. We soon will have to learn once again the real cost of the items we consume.
No one who has ever participated in the production of a substantial amount of food thinks farmers market costs too much.
ph007 3 years, 3 months ago
There is alot of great fresh produce that is donated to (Just food ) during the market season, The people of Just food do a fantastic job of picking up,storing, distributing produce that we have worked very hard to grow.
Mariposa 3 years, 3 months ago
I refuse to believe that eating fresh, locally grown produce has anything to do with health. It is simply a fad and a fetish. If you eat a salad with stuff from the market and I make mine with stuff from Walmart they are equally good for you. My body doesn't know or care where the food it gets comes from, it processes it regardless. But, if you must feel superior to we Walmart plebians, by all means go ahead. Meanwhile, I will have a Krispy Kreme doughnut with creme filling and chocolate frosting.
Jane 3 years, 3 months ago
Mariposa, Stay in school and learn something.
overplayedhistory 3 years, 3 months ago
Mariposa, I refuse to believe that my children and I are doomed because your beliefs are rampant in our society, that does not make it true. So go on living your life by beliefs based on emotion devoid of any valid information, I am sure that will never have any bad outcomes.
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