Inflation makes it tough for people to make ends meet, especially those who have low-wage jobs and live in an area where rents have gone up dramatically. Yet it is still important to have enough healthy food, so here is a bit of good news. Eureka Springs Farmers’ Market has started offering the Arkansas Double Up Food Bucks (DUFP) program. For $20 worth of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, you can get a $20 match allowing you to purchase $40 worth of food at the farmers’ market that day.
The program works by going to a booth at the farmers’ market where your SNAP is swiped and you receive $20 worth of SNAP tokens that can be spent on meat or eggs, and $20 worth of tokens that must be spent on fruits and vegetables.
“Every dollar they spend at the market is matched up to $20,” Jeremy Adams, project manager for Arkansas DUFB program said. DUFB is administered through the Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention. “It allows the customer to buy a pretty well-rounded meal at the farmers’ market. You can’t go without food. I think SNAP recipients are affected more because of inflation. People who live in poverty face much tougher decisions. Programs like DUFP are really a lifeline for SNAP recipients dealing with inflation, for sure. Every little bit counts. When you can double your money on food, it is a good deal. And you are eating healthy, too.”
The farmers’ market started accepting Double Up Food Bucks a couple weeks ago.
Adams said when the SNAP recipients are able to purchase food from the farmers’ market, they get the benefit of contributing to the local economy versus going to shop at big box stores where money goes out of the county.
“This program builds a lot of repeat customers,” Adams said. “It is good for them as a customer and good for the local food producer. Farmers’ market vendors spend more time investing in customers, telling you about their farm and what they grow. We got a late start this year, but typically the program runs from the first of May to the end of October. While we have only about two months for people to use it at the farmers’ market this year, there is still time for people to capitalize on it. And we will be back next May.”
Adams said the program also helps farmers with direct marketing programs.
“This is a new program so the more awareness we can create, the better it will be for the market,” Adams said. “A lot of times people find out about it, think too good to be true. They really will double your money at the farmers’ market. When the word gets around, the program becomes more popular. Sycamore Bend has been doing the program with customers for two years, and now other vendors are, too.”
Sycamore Bend co-owner Andrew Schwerin said the farmers’ market had a SNAP program back around 2011-2013. But when the funding from a private foundation ended, the program died.
“The Eureka Springs Farmers’ Market attracts quality growers and food producers from all over Northwest Arkansas,” Schwerin said. “These are homesteaders/rural folks relying on their production for their income, and their cost of production can’t compete with the big corporations. The SNAP program allows lower income folks to be able to buy locally grown foods. The DUFB program matches any SNAP purchases so that local fruits and vegetables can essentially be bought at the farmers’ market for half price.”
Fresh fruits and vegetables, along with exercise, are the basic steps to health, so the program really helps make quality nutrient-dense organic veggies available to everyone.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty in the economy right now, with the Federal Reserve raising interest rates to dampen the economy in an effort to rein in rampant post-Covid inflation,” Schwerin said. “Food prices have gone up, and your average Carroll County resident is also getting hit with higher gas prices, higher rents or property taxes, and significantly higher prices on many other essential goods, like used cars. With average hourly earnings not keeping up with inflation, credit card debt in America has risen to an all-time high. These are not secure times for everybody.”
There are a lot of volunteer and non-profit organizations working hard to feed the hungry in Carroll County. Schwerin said the farmers’ market vendors are grateful to be able to help out in their own way.
“We’ve had a new market manager take the reins, Pauline Rescorl, who has a strong background in community organization and was the long-time Produce Manager at Ozark Natural Foods in Fayetteville,” Schwerin said.
Jean Elderwind, an advisory member of the Community Center Board of Directors, said it is worth noting that the farmers’ market opened a full year before even the Community Center gym was opened in 2018.
“The Community Center board loved having life on the site,” Elderwind said. “The farmers’ market board and the Community Center board jointly raised funds to establish the limestone pad with matching funds from CS Bank. In total $10,000 was raised. Promoting local food sourcing has always been foremost to the Community Center Board. And for a few hours each week, the farmers’ market vendors create a vibrant music-filled area rich with produce and home goods within our Eureka Springs. I love it!”
Eureka Springs Farmers’ Market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. from April through November and from 9 a.m. to noon December through March.