Once seen as niche, farmers’ markets are increasingly becoming vital for food access for low-income communities, with food stamp sales holding steady after a post-pandemic surge and amid policy changes.
Nationally, spending at farmer’s markets using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, rose from $13.3 million in 2013 to $70.6 million — a 431% increase — in 2023, the most recent data available.
That growth surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Spending through SNAP at the markets, farm stands, pick-your-own operations, and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) saw the sharpest increase among all retail channels, rising 77% from 2020 to 2021. The spike was driven by a temporary federal boost in benefits that ended on Sept. 30, 2021, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Year-over-year spending at farmer’s markets continued to grow at a slower rate in 2022, and then dipped a modest 3% in 2023. Even with this slight reduction in spending, the markets proved more resilient than traditional grocery channels post-pandemic, experiencing a smaller percentage decrease in consumer spending, according to the data.
Proposed USDA cuts could unravel hard-won gains
Despite this trend, SNAP sales at farmer’s markets account for only .5% of all SNAP sales in 2023, while super stores and supermarkets make up 75% of all SNAP sales. The remaining share is spread across retailers like co-ops, specialty stores, bakeries, and internet-based grocers.
The rising use of matching programs helps encourage SNAP recipients to shop directly from farmers. Some farmer’s markets double SNAP benefits through federally funded initiatives, such as the Link Up program in Illinois, which began in 2011 in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood and has since expanded statewide.
The core goal of SNAP matching programs is to empower recipients by transforming their shopping experience from restrictive to enriching, according to Matthew Ruffi, head of Link Up. The organization coordinates the SNAP matching program in Illinois.
“Programs like these equip Illinois farmers’ markets, farm stands, and more with the tools and funding needed to offer SNAP matching, enhancing accessibility and fostering community connections for SNAP users,” Ruffi said in a written statement to Investigate Midwest.
Currently, one out of every six Illinoisans receives SNAP benefits. The Link Up Program “breaks down barriers for people where every single dollar matters,” he said.
Accessibility to farmers’ markets for low-income Americans has evolved over the decades. When Congress replaced paper food stamp coupons with an electronic debit card system in 2002, farmers’ markets struggled to quickly adapt. Markets gradually developed workarounds, and today, tens of millions of SNAP dollars are spent every year at these markets.
But that progress may be at risk. Congressional Republicans have proposed deep cuts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s budget to offset tax reductions, most of which would target SNAP funding.
Advocates warn that such cuts could undo years of gains. Not just in food access, but in building stronger ties between local farmers and the communities they serve.
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