Card swipe program approved for farmer's market
By MARTIN J. KIDSTON IR Features Writer
Food stamp recipients in Helena will soon be able to swipe their electronic benefits card at the farmer's market to purchase fresh and locally grown food.
The card-swipe program, funded through the Montana Department of Health and Human Services, will be administered by the National Center for Applied Technology and the Alternative Energy Resource Organization on a trial basis starting September.
“They’ll have a card that can be used like a credit or debit card, and can be swiped,” said Jim Barngrover, agriculture and food systems program manager for AERO. “They will have an automatic withdrawal of credit off their card, so they can purchase local, fresh, and more nutritious foods.”
The Helena farmer’s market, now in its 34th year, draws nearly 2,000 visitors during its peak season. Venders peddle everything from ceramic art to Flathead cherries, jams, bread, and vegetables.
Barngrover said the Helena market was selected for the card swipe program given its proven track record. Farmer’s markets in Bozeman and Missoula will also participate in the pilot program.
“There’s a long history and tradition in Helena — it’s a solid market and it appears to be well-managed,” Barngrover said. “If it proves out this year, and over the course of the next couple of years, it will probably be expanded into other markets.” While the program gives food stamp recipients a chance to eat fresh and more nutritious foods, it may also serve as a boon to local growers.
A similar program in Oregon has seen nearly $6 million in food stamps used at local markets, Barngrover said.
“That’s had quite a positive impact on local economies,” Barngrover said. “It helps support the local producers. Other states have been doing this for several years.”
With the pilot program in place, AERO will begin looking at local transportation needs to the market.
Some food stamp recipients may not have transportation, making it difficult to get to the market to take advantage of the new system.
“It’s something we’ll be looking at,” Barngrover said. “We need to find out what the roadblocks might be, and work to facilitate changes to make it as easy as possible for those who may not have their own private transportation to get to the market.”
Reporter Martin Kidston can be reached at 447-4086, or at mkidston@helenair.com
The card-swipe program, funded through the Montana Department of Health and Human Services, will be administered by the National Center for Applied Technology and the Alternative Energy Resource Organization on a trial basis starting September.
“They’ll have a card that can be used like a credit or debit card, and can be swiped,” said Jim Barngrover, agriculture and food systems program manager for AERO. “They will have an automatic withdrawal of credit off their card, so they can purchase local, fresh, and more nutritious foods.”
The Helena farmer’s market, now in its 34th year, draws nearly 2,000 visitors during its peak season. Venders peddle everything from ceramic art to Flathead cherries, jams, bread, and vegetables.
Barngrover said the Helena market was selected for the card swipe program given its proven track record. Farmer’s markets in Bozeman and Missoula will also participate in the pilot program.
“There’s a long history and tradition in Helena — it’s a solid market and it appears to be well-managed,” Barngrover said. “If it proves out this year, and over the course of the next couple of years, it will probably be expanded into other markets.” While the program gives food stamp recipients a chance to eat fresh and more nutritious foods, it may also serve as a boon to local growers.
A similar program in Oregon has seen nearly $6 million in food stamps used at local markets, Barngrover said.
“That’s had quite a positive impact on local economies,” Barngrover said. “It helps support the local producers. Other states have been doing this for several years.”
With the pilot program in place, AERO will begin looking at local transportation needs to the market.
Some food stamp recipients may not have transportation, making it difficult to get to the market to take advantage of the new system.
“It’s something we’ll be looking at,” Barngrover said. “We need to find out what the roadblocks might be, and work to facilitate changes to make it as easy as possible for those who may not have their own private transportation to get to the market.”
Reporter Martin Kidston can be reached at 447-4086, or at mkidston@helenair.com
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