The Washington Post reports this morning that "the amount of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits — the food assistance formerly called food stamps — redeemed at farmers markets has steadily increased over the summer months because of key changes at the Agriculture Department and expanded funding of food benefits for low-income families and school-age children during the pandemic, the USDA said.
"The amount reached $1.4 million in May and continued to trend upward over the summer, reaching $1.75 million in September, the USDA said. That is a 50 percent increase over last year, according to anti-hunger advocates."
The story goes on: "Since January, farmers and markets have been able to get free equipment and support to accept SNAP through a grant. Because many farmers markets operate only in the warmer months, this took effect this spring.
"At the same time, the USDA expanded funding for SNAP and added Pandemic EBT benefits, a debit-card program for children who would ordinarily qualify for free and reduced-price school meals, enabling low-income American households to combine the benefits. Additional regional grants doubled recipients’ fruit and vegetable benefits at many farmers markets."
- KC's View:
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In other words, we're moving in the right direction, in which federal funding, which comes out of taxpayers' pockets, is used to buy food that keeps people healthier.
