Bill Would Allow Use Of Food Stamps At Farmer’s Markets
Vince Leibowitz | Feb 25, 2009 | Comments 0
Few people have probably given much thought to whether or not Food Stamp recipients can buy food products at any place that actually sells food. After all, the “Lone Star Card” signs on the doors of supermarkets, mini-marts, and convenience stores are so commonplace that most people don’t give them a second though.
One interesting quirk of the Food Stamp program in Texas, evidently, is that recipients can’t walk into many farmer’s markets and actually buy fresh fruits and vegetables.
A new bill by State Sen. Elliot Shapleigh (D-El Paso) seeks to remedy that. SB 1088 directs the Health and Human Services Commission and Department of Agriculture to work together to ensure that farmer’s markets are able to accept Food Stamps, have the necessary terminals to process Lone Star Cards, and reach out to benefit recipients to let them know Food Stamp benefits can be used at farmer’s markets.
This is a good bill because it helps Texas’ most needy families by making sure they can access wholesome produce and prices cheaper than in chain markets (and probably of better quality than in most markets, t00) and helps small farmers who sell produce as well as the markets themselves by generating more business for them.
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Filed Under: 81st Texas Legislature
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Vince from Capitol Annex is reporting a new bill filed by Sen. Elliot Shapleigh would allow food stamp recipients to use their Lone Star Cards at farmers markets,Bill Would Allow Use of Food Stamps At Farmers Markets. This is outstanding news–it helps support our local farmers by broadening their customer base and it gives food stamp recipients an excellent source of nutritious food. I would imagine you’ll see a bunch of diverse groups lining up behind this
