SNAP Users Will Soon Be Able To Spend More At Farmers’ Markets In Madison

To increase food stamp usage at farmers’ markets in Madison, hospitals and insurers are going to start footing part of the bill.

Under a new program, food stamp users will double their purchasing power at farmers’ markets courtesy of health providers.

Madison’s new pilot program at four farmer’s markets underscores the link between diet and health – not to mention the lengths health care providers are willing to go so that people eat better. Starting in August, three Madison hospitals and one insurance company will pay for half of what people in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) buy at farmers’ markets.

Madison’s food and alcohol policy coordinator Mark Woulf says the city approached health care providers with the idea.

“If we can make a small step forward this year [and] demonstrate that people are willing to go and shop and use their SNAP at farmers’ markets, then hopefully we are able to scale up the program,” says Woulf.

The intent of the program is to get SNAP users to buy and eat more fruits and vegetables. A survey by the Community Action Coalition indicates they were more likely to do so if farmers’ markets accepted the food stamp debit card known as Quest. But Woulf says the additional donated dollars don’t have any nutritional strings attached.

“I don’t think it’s a bad thing if a couple of the matching dollars are used for pastry if the rest of the dollars are used for healthy, fresh items,” says Woulf.

SNAP users can get up to $30 worth of goods each time they go.