Addendum: Should Food Stamps Be Good At Farmer's Markets?

Well, yes, as good as they are anywhere else groceries are sold.  And I particularly like this program thus far.

Holders of the food stamp card (SNAP) can get twice as much bang for the federal food buck if it's locally grown and sold at the Farmer's Market.  To me the coolest part of this, the part that is how this sort of thing ought to be done, is, sadly, the part they are seeking to change.  It's this:

Thus far, the Fair Food Network has supported the program almost exclusively with philanthropic dollars (including support from over 30 local and national foundations and corporations, particularly George Soros’ Open Society, which chose DUFB to be beneficiary of their Special Fund for Poverty Alleviation).

 There are limitations- one of them being it's just good for up to 20 dollars a day, but spending 20 dollars for 40 dollars with of fresh, locally grown, nourishing food is pretty cool

I'd love to see this remain supported by philanthropic dollars, and expanded to other areas.

Incidentally,if this is important to you, there is a way you cand do this in a small way yourself, even if such large scale philanthropy is not available in your area.  If you know somebody with a tight budget, buy them some produce, a gift card to a local farmer's market, or slip them a few dollars and offer them a ride to the farmer's market.
Or buy a case of locally grown, organic food and donate it the local soup kitchen.
Or make a good, wholesome meal using the food you think people need to eat more of, and take it to the local soup kitchen, or wherever the homeless in your area seem to be found.

We've had the boys mother stay with us a few times early on in our relationship (she has refused invitations since them) and without comment, cooked foods from scratch, giving her the recipe when she expressed interest in a meal.  I gave her a cookbook all about egg recipes when she told me she needed to know more ways to prepare eggs because WIC provided them with more eggs than they would eat.

When my husband was active duty I often invited young military brides to go to the commissary with me, both to show them the ropes at the commissary, and to show them what it might look like to buy ingredients rather than convenience foods. Those curious enough would ask me about what I was buying and how I prepared it.  This was a low key, non-confrontational, comfortable, and even fun way to learn about how other people cook. I learned things, too, so it was mutual.


Just a few ideas.  You may know of better ones.  A great big thank-you to K.W. for passing on the link to the story about this excellent program.