Did you know you live in a food desert? The Main Street Farmer’s Market has attempted to help by bringing food to us. With their Produce Perks program, fresh fruits and vegetables became accessible to at-need Delaware residents.
Delaware is a prime example of a food desert due to its scarce grocery stores. A food desert is an area where food is not easily accessible. In order to get groceries, residents must drive long distances through heavy traffic and construction. However, the farmer’s market, in the heart of downtown Delaware, is a short walk for many.
The sidewalks in front of Delaware’s local businesses are lined with booths every Saturday morning between 9 a.m. and noon. Open to all, the market is filled with college students, families, and the smell of fresh baked goods.
These cool mornings show Delaware’s need for access to locally grown produce. The Produce Perks program allows eligible residents to use their SNAP Benefits at the market. This unique dollar-for-dollar match is a generous incentive.
Main Street Delaware Program Coordinator, Caroline Pusateri said the program began in 2018 with help from Andrews House and the Delaware Public Health District.
“We introduced the program to help individuals and families get better access to fresh, local produce, meat, eggs, honey, baked goods, and more,” Pusateri said.
Residents start at the Andrews House table and swipe their SNAP Benefits card for the amount they wish to spend. The resident receives that amount in tokens to be used at any participating booth. They receive the same amount (up to $25) in additional tokens to be spent specifically on fresh produce.
Residents can use their SNAP benefits and receive locally-grown produce for free. It seems to be a win-win situation for everyone involved. The vendors make a profit and residents can purchase fresh food with no concern for the cost.
However, there does appear to be one big drawback, “I think it's nice but the one thing I don't like about it is its tokens. It makes it more well known that you are using SNAP Benefits compared to if you were at a store and used the SNAP Benefits card,” said market attendee Caleb Gunn.
The market closes for the year on October 26, so residents have plenty of time to attend. The program, while not perfect, is a great first step towards addressing the inaccessibility of fresh food in Delaware.
“We are grateful to be able to partner with these other organizations in our community to help combat food insecurity in our area,” Pusateri said.
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