Organic farmers have received a federal grant that’s expected to help low-income Floridians access healthier food. It’s also anticipated to increase farmers’ revenue by more than $2 million.
Two farmers’ markets in Jacksonville are going to join in the Fresh Access Bucks program, which allows food stamps to be used to buy fresh produce. That’s because of a grant awarded to an association of organic growers.
Carmen Franz with Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers says the grant will give people in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program a way to make their money go twice as far.
Franz said, “So if they spend $20 on their SNAP card, they will get $40 worth of tokens to spend at one of our participating markets. And then that buy one get one money, the incentive money, is good for the purchase of Florida-grown fruits and vegetables.”
Two farmers’ markets in Duval County, the Atlantic Beach Mid-Week Market and the Beaches Green Market, currently participate in the program. The program will be expanded to Clara White Mission’s harvest farms and the Berry Good Farm mobile market. The association also expects to add the Hemming Park market to its ranks.
