With a grant of $50,000 over three years, the Fairfax County Farmers Markets will ensure SNAP (previously called food stamps) recipients can access fresh local produce. The farmers markets received this money because they partner with Local Environmental Agriculture Project (LEAP), which received $1.8 million from the USDA through the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI).

This money will make a difference for SNAP recipients in Fairfax County, allowing them better access to the produce at farmers markets.

“Most people on SNAP, because they’re so strapped for cash, they only buy processed foods, because they’re very cheap, and healthy food is expensive,” Farmers Market Coordinator Chelsea Roseberry said. “We’re trying to bridge that gap so that little-income families don’t feel like this is inaccessible to them.”

At participating farmers markets, the value of SNAP dollars is doubled by the Virginia Fresh Match nutrition incentive program – for example, if a person spends $20 in SNAP benefits at a farmers market, they will receive $20 more to spend on fruits and vegetables.

With the grant money, this dollar-matching program will provide up to $100,000 in added revenue to local farms as SNAP recipients purchase their products at markets. In this way, the local economy also benefits from the grant.

“Small farms are dying out,” said Assistant Market Manager Sue Wolinsky. “A lot of the land is being given over to development. So, anything we can do to support family farms is in the plus column.”