Food stamp tokens benefit many at farmer’s market

Murphy – Rowan Greene, executive director of North Carolina Operations for Heartland Communities, is proud to announce that EBT dollars are being accepted at the Murphy Farmer’s Market.

“We love the program, it brings us a lot of business. It gives people the opportunity to purchase locally grown healthy vegetables and homemade jams, jellies and pickles,” Candace McCaffity said.

She and her husband, Lewis, are vendors.” I’m glad it’s here,” he added.

The program allows shoppers with food stamps to buy locally grown foods at the Murphy Farmer’s Market. When shopping at the market, just go to the Heartland Community booth and scan your SNAP/EBT card to purchase EBT tokens. Vendors that choose to participate accept these tokens in exchange for their fruits, vegetables, eggs, meats and baked goods.

In addition to the wooden EBT tokens purchased, shoppers will receive equal value in metal Doubled-Up Food Bucks, up to $20 each market day. This grant-funded program allows the added benefit of receiving twice as many goods for just the initial value purchased.

“Heartland Communities believes families experiencing crisis deserve the dignity of discretionary spending, so in addition to the food specific tokens, we raised the funds to release a third token (triple-down),” Greene said.

This plastic token can be used to purchase anything from participating vendors, such as soaps, clothing and other items. This enables everyone to contribute, including vendors that do not sell food.

“It’s a wonderful program that benefits greatly, and helps Cherokee and other surrounding counties,” Barbara McTaggart said.

“Food stamps are a taxpayer-funded program. It’s allocated to give resources to families experiencing crisis. If that money is spent at Walmart those taxpayer dollars leave the county, but if those families use their food stamps at the farmer’s market the money goes directly to the farmers and stays in the community,” Greene said.

The Murphy Farmer’s Market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday at 4 Railroad St. downtown. For details, call Greene at 260-442-5538.