Farmers' Market Welcomes Food Stamps

Anyone that's ever been to a farmers' market knows perfectly well that fresh produce isn't cheap!

People who shop at the nearly thirty fresh food bazaars spread across San Diego County think more with their stomachs than with their wallets. This is the reason why most farmers' markets are located in higher income neighborhoods.

That changed earlier this month when eleven vendors displayed their freshest produce and opened their metal cash boxes to the residents of City Heights. The farmers' market, located on Wightman Street in between Fairmont and 43rd, is slightly different. Inside the metal cash boxes will be a special place for food stamps and WIC coupons, making the City Heights Farmers' Market the first in the county to accept government subsidies as payment for fresh goods.

Since opening, the farmers' market has shown a good deal of growth. "We're averaging about a hundred people during the peak hours," says San Diego Farm Bureau's Casey Anderson. He says in the short amount of time there's also been a rise in the number of vendors; seven more have sprouted up and set up shop for the residents of City Heights.

In a few weeks a private organization is set to begin matching every dollar's worth of food stamps or vouchers spent on every purchase up to ten dollars in value, creating even more of an incentive for lower income families to buy fresh goods from local farms.

The City Heights Farmers' Market is held every Saturday from 9am to 1pm.

For more information visit sdfarmbureau.org