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www.mybaycity.com August 21, 2010
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Retired Delta College computer science professor Jeanne Mallak, of Saginaw, tends Mia, a one-year-old poodle as she makes her purchases. Ms. Mallak is dog-sitting Mia for Dave and Sherry Bledsoe of Bangor Twp.
(MyBayCity Photo by Dave Rogers)

Downtown Bay City Farmer's Market in Full Mid-Summer Bloom

Federal Food Stamp Program SNAP Through Bridge Cards Buoys Sales

August 21, 2010       Leave a Comment
By: Dave Rogers

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The Downtown Bay City Farmer's Market is in full swing with most vegetables now in season and for sale.

This is a seasonal open air market with Michigan-only products: fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, baked goods, fish, plants, honey and other value added Michigan items.

The market, that operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays, is busier than ever, according to Jan Rise, market master for Downtown Bay City Management Board in cooperation with the MSU Extension office.

"Sales are way up," says Mrs. Rise, "and we now accept food stamps and the bridge card." Bay City is one of several dozen communities using the SNAP federal food stamp program for low income families.



Janet and Frank Rash, of Pinconning, get help from a neighboring booth run by folks from Bad Axe as they set up at the Downtown Bay City Farmers Market.
(MyBayCity Photo by Dave Rogers)




Theresa Woodward, left, of Bad Axe, gets help at her booth from Elizabeth Sherloc, 16, far right, an 11th grader at Port Huron High School, and, front, from left, Jordyn Cooper, 8, Brook Pease, 10, and Sarah Cooper, 11. The Coopers are from Unionville and Ms. Pease from Owendale.
(MyBayCity Photo by Dave Rogers)


Thursdays are busier than Tuesdays, says Mrs. Rise. Most days 12-14 vendors show up, hailing from communities around the Thumb and as far away as Bad Axe.

"We've had a really good summer and we got a fast start because of the early spring," she said, noting that a lot of produce came in earlier than expected. The produce looks better this year because of adequate rain, the market master added.

With tough economic times still on the horizon, Bay City is among more farmers markets are reaching out to low-income families by offering Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) redemption at their markets, say state agriculture department officials.

SNAP is the new name for the federal Food Stamp Program. SNAP helps low-income people and families buy the food they need for good health. Benefits are provided on an electronic Bridge Card which is used like an ATM card and accepted at most grocery stores and more and more farmers markets. Today, the program provides benefits for more than 31 million low-income people, more than 50 percent of whom are children.

According to the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA), the SNAP participation rate increased more than 17 percent between September 2007 and September 2008 nationally -- a clear indicator of current economic conditions. In 2008 in Michigan alone, 18 farmers markets accepted SNAP benefits for a redemption of more than $87,000.

"In 2009, more than 25 farmers markets around Michigan participated in offering SNAP benefits to their customers," said Dru Montri, Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) Manager. "We want that number to keep growing, so we?re encouraging more markets to learn about SNAP and how to reach out to those families who need fresh, local food most."

Training sessions focus on everything that farmers and/or farmers markets need to do to accept SNAP benefits, including: completing the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) application to become an authorized retailer; preparing a proposal for the Department of Human Services; alternative redemption systems; acquiring a pint of sale device; record keeping; program promotion; community outreach; and fundraising.

Sessions are free, but registration is required to ensure that adequate resource materials are available for all participants. To register or get more information, visit www.farmersmarkets.msu.edu or contact Dru Montri at 517-432-3381 or dnmontri@msu.edu. Training sessions are funded by USDA Agricultural Marketing Services Farmers Market Promotion Program Grant and are sponsored by the Michigan Farmers Markets Food Assistance Partnership. Members of the Partnership include ACS Government Solutions, Michigan Department of Community Health, Michigan Department of Human Services, Michigan Farmers Market Association, Michigan Food Policy Council, USDA Food and Nutrition Services, Michigan State University, Downtown Saginaw Farmers Market and Detroit Eastern Market. To learn more about MIFMA or SNAP benefits, visit www.farmersmarkets.msu.edu or www.fns.usda.gov/FSP.

MIFMA was developed in 2006 to promote and grow farmers markets across the state and increase their visibility to both producers and consumers. This membership-based organization offers information, sharing and resources to farmers markets, farmers and vendors and friends of Michigan food and agriculture.

The MIFMA mission is to advance farmers markets to create a thriving marketplace for local food and farm products and to place farmers markets at the forefront of the local food movement, working to ensure all residents have access to healthy, locally grown food and that Michigan farmers markets receive policy support. To learn more, please visit www.farmersmarkets.msu.edu or call (517) 432-3381.



Barney Ludwig, 56, doesn't even have to get off his moped to buy his vegetables from Tiffany McDonald, of Essexville. Tiffany has been farming four years and this is her first year at the Bay City outdoor market.
(MyBayCity Photo by Dave Rogers)




Arlene, Larry and Sherry Sevilla wait on customers at the Corrion Farms of Essexville farm market booth.
(MyBayCity Photo by Dave Rogers)




Market Master Jan Rise gets help from Justin Wendt, 24, a business student from Saginaw Valley State University interning at the market this summer.
(MyBayCity Photo by Dave Rogers)


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Dave Rogers

Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read,
respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City.
(Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)

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