I do not believe there are too many farmers markets. If we focus on the next door neighboring farmers market as the enemy we waste our energies and shoot ourselves in the foot.
The real problem is that there are first, two few customers shopping at those markets; and second, too few growers selling at those markets.
The obesity and diabetes pandemic are two gigantic reasons why communities are desperate for farmers markets. Farmers markets provide a "consumer safe food shopping environment" for purchasing food for the home that effectively "cure" that pandemic.
Farmers Markets and field/garden to table food delivery systems are the answer to America's Health Crisis. And we need to embrace policy changes to focus on that answer.
Internally, in our own farmers market rules and regulations, we need to be encouraging our whole plant foods growers to aggressively call attention to the nutritional and health benefits of the foods they grow and sell. That is a small market policy change - in the right direction.
Now here is an example of a grander public policy I believe needs to be changed. It is in the handling of EBT Food Stamps at farmers markets.
Because of the hassle - currently - my tiny markets are the only markets within a hundred miles that is currently enabled to accept EBT (we do nonprofit nutrition outreach). Currently each farmers market in California that wants to be enabled to accept EBT SNAP cards must design and get approval for its own "script". I use wooden tokens at my two small markets. The cards are swiped for as many dollars as the customer desires, and then receives that amount of tokens to spend on food items at the market. At the end of the market the farmers come to me with their tokens and I write a check to them for the amount.
But I can not currently enter into a collaborative agreement with a seasonal Tuesday market sponsored by a Community Hospital. They must set up their own.
Furthermore - it is not possible for a city or county or even state unit of government to set up an optional "contracted out" collaborative system to handle all EBT transactions at all farmers markets within their boundaries. The EBT system requirements currently in place are like requiring that the bathrooms all be porta-potties -and they must be constructed, serviced and maintained by the farmers market manager themselves - rather than contracted out to a company that takes care of that for them.
There is much being made of the EBT outreach projects and grant funding for farmers market promotions. But it would cost as much for me and my tiny markets to get the word out that on Thursdays from 11 AM to 3 PM at the corner of C and Myers Street there is a farmers market that will accept EBT SNAP cards
- as it would be to announce that all 12 farmers markets throughout the county are now able to accept them.
And a county wide outreach program - I am convinced - would bring more NEW! customers to my market than the same amount of focus and effort expended exclusively on my two little markets. And the thing is - there is significant economic reason why a county might want to set up such a system.
(See http://www.chicosol.org/ENGLISH/F005_en_02_15_2010/FoodStamps_en.htm)
This is one of many policies that can be changed - and quickly - if we just ask for it - and enter into health outreach collaborations with our neighbors.
Richard H. Roth
richard@digitido.com
ph:(530)895-1672
No comments:
Post a Comment