Poor to get help buying food at farmers markets

Franklin County commissioners agreed Tuesday to spend $15,000 so the county’s neediest can get fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers.

“We’re hoping that people are using their ... benefits to buy fresh foods as opposed to using them to buy junk food. That’s what this is all about,” Commissioner John O’Grady said Tuesday.

The “Veggie Snaps” program began in 2014 to help bring fresh produce to those who can’t afford or don’t have access to it in Columbus and Franklin County. The city and county governments collaborate to help fund the program that allows more than a dozen central Ohio farmers markets to accept government Electronic Benefit Transfer — the old food stamp program that now uses a debit card to pay for groceries — and Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) to pay for local fresh fruits and veggies.

The program commissioners approved Tuesday provides people on public assistance with an additional $10 to use for fresh produce in addition to other SNAP benefits.

The program is needed, officials said, because at some point this year more than 200,000 in Franklin County won’t have access to fresh food, either because of location or affordability. That’s about one of every five county residents.

Those using the service have to check with farmers markets to see if they are participating in the program. If they are, buyers can use their EBT card to buy tokens to use at qualifying markets. The tokens serve as cash for buying produce.

“It’s just the right thing to do,” O’Grady said.

It also helps local farmers. The extra benefit means more local produce is bought. Last year, Veggie Snaps’ Rachel Tayse told commissioners Tuesday, sellers at area farmers markets sold $18,000 in produce under the program. The 14 farmers markets participating in the program this year, she added, are expected to sell $20,000 this year.

Veggie Snaps is a central Ohio program, but similar programs exist in Cincinnati, Cleveland and other parts of the state under an Ohio program called Produce Perks.

[JONATHAN QUILTER/COLUMBUS DISPATCH] Pearl Market on Pearl Alley Downtown is one of 14 area farmers markets where people can use their SNAP benefits to buy fresh produce this year.