July 1, 2010
2010 Farmers' Market Season Brings Benefits to Food Stamp Recipients - 7.10
Spring Valley Farmers’ Market: First and only to offer this benefit in Rockland
The Spring Valley Farmers’ Market will begin again on Wednesday, July 7th. This year, in collaboration with Community Markets, the operator of the Spring Valley Farmers’ Market, The Rockland Department of Health’s Steps to a Healthier Rockland initiative is proud to announce that the market will accept state issued Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, the electronic delivery method for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) also known as the Food Stamp Program. An EBT booth will be located at the Spring Valley Farmers’ Market all season. The market runs every Wednesday from 8:30am to 3:00pm through November 10th. The market is at the corner of Rout 45 and North Church Street.
SNAP is a federally funded program delivering monthly benefits to 28 million Americans nationwide. Approximately 10% of Rockland County residents currently receive SNAP benefits. With the Spring Valley Farmers’ Market's participation in the SNAP/EBT Program, Rockland Food Stamp recipients can increase their access to locally grown and locally produced food items. Eligible items include fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, baked goods, jams and jellies and honey. The purchase of vegetable plants and potted herbs is also acceptable.
The biggest advantage to shopping at a farmers’ market is that you get the freshest produce available. Produced is picked within hours of market time. Fresh produce not only looks and tastes better, it has a nutritional edge for you because it retains more vitamins or minerals verses sitting in a warehouse or traveling thousands of miles for days.
SNAP recipients simply have their card swiped by the terminal operator at the EBT booth for their desired dollar amount and, in exchange, receive that amount in EBT tokens. These tokens will be issued in $1 increments for use with participating vendors throughout the farmers’ market. The market will also offer cooking demonstrations and recipes to make buying and preparing healthy local food easier for SNAP recipients.
Join the Rockland County Department of Health in celebrating the opening day of the market on July 7th at 10:00 am. Opening day will also feature a ribbon cutting ceremony, live music, giveaways and raffles!
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