More Customers Using Food Stamps at Farmer’s Market
JACKSON, Tenn. – A new food stamp program at the West Tennessee Farmer‘s Market is helping local growers. The program kicked off in April and it is already beginning to make an impact for some vendors. “It’s all about trying to make a sale,” said Richard Holder, a vendor. Holder travels 62 miles to sell produce at the farmer‘s market in Jackson. “We drive from the Tennessee River to here,” he said. Many Farmer‘s Market vendors started accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in April. Holder hopes the new program will help him make more money. “It’s not real popular yet, but I figure it’ll pick up as the peak season hits here,” said Holder. Nona Brummett manages the West Tennessee Farmer‘s Market and helped bring in the program. “It provides a needed way for people who are on food stamps to get some good quality food at a good price,” she said. Brummett said wet weather crippled crops and hurt sales so far this year. “I’m hoping as soon as all the vegetables come in, if it ever stops raining to where the poor farmers can get their crops in, we’ll do really well with it,” she said. Meat vendors, who already have their product, are very popular among SNAP benefit customers. Other vendors expect profits to pick up in the next few weeks. “It’s just like farming,” said Holder. “You take chances. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.” The West Tennessee Farmer‘s Market is open Tuesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
