How farmer’s markets and EBT work together to fight food insecurity

A sign outside of the Astor Place Greenmarket

Farmer’s markets and farmstands in NYC help mitigate the effects of food insecurity and food deserts by providing low-income New Yorkers access to fresh, quality foods and accepting Electronic Benefit Transfer payments.

EBT’s help qualifying people in the U.S. purchase nutritious food that they may be unable to afford otherwise. Vendors say that more customers have been using EBT payments at NYC’s farmer’s markets than in previous years. Similarly, 201,968 more New Yorkers received EBT’s in 2020 than in 2019, according to the Citizen’s Committee for Children of New York.

“We’ve seen an increase in EBT usage over different markets,” said Dennis Remsburger from Remsburger Honey & Maple. “This year I’ve had more EBT than years’ past,” he said.

Another vendor, Dan, from ShannonBrook Farms, said, “We have noticed regular customers start using EBT. There is a shift in what payments are processed.”

The sales shift could be attributed to NYC markets’ Health Bucks program, where for every $2 paid through EBT, customers receive a $2 coupon. In low-income neighborhoods, farmstands that implement these policies help remedy food insecurity.

One such farmstand resides in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn. Located in the first-ranked Community District in NYC for EBT distribution, it serves a large community in need.

The farmstand is also partnered with the Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, which connects residents to resources they may be unfamiliar with.

“There is a targeting in this particular neighborhood. I just know from walking and driving around here, there’s not really a natural food store presence or even a great grocery store presence,” said Miguel de Laveaga, a GrowNYC member managing the farmstand.

GrowNYC, an NYC-based non-profit organization focused on promoting health and sustainability in the city, sponsors these farmer’s markets and farm stands with their Greenmarket program.

“One of the best parts about the Greenmarket is that we’re really trying to produce food access and I think because of the pandemic there has been a huge increase in people needing assistance for food,” said Lilly Gibson, another staff member for the organization.

Accepting EBT makes this goal attainable and simultaneously benefits farmers.

“Any sale is going to help a business, and you don’t pay a fee on the EBT,” said Remsburger. “Any income that the farm gets is going to be beneficial.”

However, Dan revealed that while farmers don’t profit directly from EBT sales, they are helpful.

“Whatever you turn in gets taken off your rent for the month. So, the more that comes in, the less you pay in rent. It’s an offset cost.”

De Laveaga sees an opportunity for all parties when EBT is used to purchase fresh food at markets. “We’re here six months out of the year, so it’s not a void filled all the time. But to have it be sustainable enough to have this stand here half the year, and that we can sustain ourselves and vice versa, I definitely sense that as a great thing happening here,” he said.