Key West Truman Waterfront Farmers Market and SOS Foundation Celebrates Farmers Market Week With Double Snap Benefits

August 1 – 7th, 2021 is officially Farmers Market Week presented by the National Farmers Market Coalition. According to their release:

  • Farmers markets are essential. Farmers market operators have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to redesign operations and create robust safety plans to continue to serve their communities. The pandemic has made it clear that local food systems with short supply chains are resilient, and can respond and adapt quickly to change.
  • Farmers markets serve as community hubs. Farmers markets foster direct relationships between community members and farmers which can work to create a more fair and sustainable food system. Farmers markets are a hub for connection and collective action around shared values.
  • The culture of farmers markets is changing. The demographic of farmers markets has not always reflected their local communities and some markets have not always created a space where everyone can feel welcome. Together, there are farmers market operators and community organizers paving the way to improve equity in the farmers market space. We fundamentally believe that farmers markets are for everyone and seek to support efforts to make farmers markets safe, inviting and accessible for all.

To that end, the Truman Waterfront Market has established a partnership with the SOS Foundation and secured approval by the United States Department of Agriculture to provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to patrons of the Market. This approval was granted by the USDA May 10, 2021 and Market vendors began accepting SNAP at the Market on June 10th. With local food insecurities identified as an issue for many Key West residents, the addition to accept SNAP benefits at the Market allows additional access to fresh foods. Patrons visit the SOS tent conveniently located at the entrance and request the amount of ‘coins’ they would like against their SNAP balance. The program coordinator gives them double the amount in tokens they can use just like cash at the approved vendors. The SNAP benefits can only be used for food and for plants and seeds to grow food for the household to eat.  Qualified Market vendors include booths selling cheese, seafood, coffee, vegetables, fruits, jellies/jams/honey, pickles, packaged sauces, beef and more.

In addition the Market organizers and SOS are also working together to secure a 3-year grant to be awarded in September 2021 that will provide marketing support for the program, an onsite manager, signage and other benefits. This will enhance the reach of the program.

As hubs for connection and community resilience, farmers markets have particularly risen to the occasion this year by providing a necessary sense of unity and stability during a time of great uncertainty.

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