Turning SNAP users away from farmers markets has environmental implications
“Widespread outcry has grown over the past few weeks following the news that low-income people reliant on food assistance could lose access to a number of farmers markets across the country thanks largely to technical errors. The glitch will result in some 1,700 farmers markets — nearly a quarter of the roughly 7,000 markets around the country — lacking the ability to accept benefits associated with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Instead, they will be forced to rely on other food sources, including supermarkets ranging in quality, as well as convenience stores and other venues.”