Yamhill Valley Grown, Your Guide To Local Food | Page 28

SNAP Cuts, Unintended Consequences for
Farmers’ Markets
November 1st of 2013 a temporary
boost to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP) expired. The total cut to the
program is estimated to be at $5 billion in
fiscal year 2014. Congress allowing the
expiration of the boost has unintended
consequences for small farmers across the
country and here in Oregon, we will not be
immune to many of the problems. Over the
past decade there has been a 490% increase in
SNAP sales at farmers’ markets. In 2009 there
were less than 1,000 markets authorized for
SNAP. In 2011 this number pushed past the
3,000 mark. In Oregon, from 2011 to 2012
SNAP redemptions increased by 21%. Not only
are the more places to spend SNAP benefits
on locally produced agriculture, but people are
doing this with increasing frequency.

On

The decrease in funds will have a
major impact on those already receiving
benefits and on those looking to enter the
program. While citizens have shown an
increasing commitment to buying locally, the
cut represents a new threat to this movement.
In Oregon, there will be 84 millions dollars less
to be spent on food, according to state
estimates. In 2012 Oregon SNAP recipients

Farm store
Photo Credit: Charles Hillestad

spent over 700,000 dollars of their benefits at
farmers’ markets. Local charities are already
starting to gear up for the expected rush to
food banks and soup kitchens. It is known that
the benefits don’t last all month long and the
cuts only exacerbate this reality. SNAP recipients
will have fewer benefits and will be forced to
reevaluate how these are spent. An 84 million
dollar shortfall will result in decreased SNAP
sales at farmers markets. This will impact local
farmers, purchasers, and the food system in
general.
The federal government should pass
legislation to increase the benefits of SNAP
recipients or subsidize purchases at farmers’
markets. Not only will this benefit SNAP
recipients, but will help cover losses that will be
felt by farmers if these cuts hold. The amount of
benefits used at farmers’ markets by Oregon
citizens is very small, at less than 1% of total
benefit usage. However, it is important that all
people have access to this type of food and
local growers to be able to access this
demographic. Additionally, local farmers may
lose thousands of dollars in revenues. These
cuts have unintended consequences that will
effect citizens, farmers, and the local food
movement.

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~Jake Baker