New York City has been leading the way in local, sustainable eating and farming. A new greenmarket pops up all the time. For the last few years I have been listening with half an ear to the voices that have been pushing for more acceptance of food stamps at these greenmarkets. Now that I am more informed I am listening with both ears. Lower income people are usually the ones most plagued by obesity and diabetes and would benefit the most from the fresh seasonal produce offered at the markets. The Department of Health has been working tirelessly to change the eating habits of low income communities in numerous ways. This summer they began offering $2 vouchers for every $5 spent at greenmarkets. This has resulted in a major increase in food stamps used at the markets. In 2008, only $100,000 in food stamps were spent. This year it more than doubled to $226,000. This is due in large part to the installation of Electronic Benefit Transfer stations that allow easy scanning of food stamp cards. It ain't our grandparents paper stamps anymore. Lack of education isn't always the culprit in these situations. Most of the time it is access- access to fresh, healthy food.
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