REDLANDS>> The City of Redlands Quality of Life Department was recently awarded a $15,110 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture that includes funding aimed at offering low-income shoppers extra buying power when they spend their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on California-grown fruits and vegetables at certified farmers’ markets.
The City of Redlands will use $6,860 of the grant to match SNAP/EBT dollars spent at either of the City’s two farmers’ markets. For every SNAP benefit dollar spent at one of the Redlands farmers’ markets, shoppers will receive an additional dollar up to $10 of Market Match incentive that can be spent on fruits and vegetables at the farmers’ market. Besides addressing food insecurity, the Market Match program boosts revenue for independent, small and mid-sized farms and promotes eating fresh locally grown food.
The City of Redlands Saturday Morning Certified Farmers’ Market takes place from 8 to 11 a.m. every Saturday in the public parking lot along Redlands Boulevard between Fifth and Sixth streets. The Thursday Market Night takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. every Thursday on East State Street between Orange and Ninth streets. Both farmers’ markets accept EBT/SNAP/CalFresh benefit dollars.
The United States Department of Agriculture Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities. The Food and Nutrition Service works with State agencies, nutrition educators, and neighborhood and faith-based organizations to ensure that those eligible for nutrition assistance can make informed decisions about applying for the program and can access benefits. In California, the program is administered through the Department of Social Services CalFresh program.
Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) is an electronic system that allows a recipient to authorize transfer of their government benefits from a Federal account to a retailer account to pay for products received.
With the grant in place, low-income shoppers will now have more options and better access to high quality fresh foods giving more control over what these shoppers look for.