Farmers Markets Become Key Weapon in Combating Food Deserts

Rachel Cernansky reports on the federal government's recently announced plan to expand access to healthy foods by increasing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) acceptance at America's farmers markets.

1 minute read

May 10, 2012, 11:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


According to Cernasky, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is putting its money where its mouth is, by funding the expansion of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) or "food stamp" acceptance at farmers markets across the country.

"Expanding SNAP at farmers markets is part of the agency's broader approach to increasing healthy food access for low-income communities that lack adequate grocery stores and public transportation - areas known (if sometimes controversially so) as food deserts," notes Cernasky.

The initiative seeks to expand and build on successes gained in just the past four years as SNAP spending at farmers markets increased by 400 percent -- "and that's with less than a quarter of the country's 7,000 markets participating in the program."

"'Twenty years ago or more, people thought this was something for the elite. Clearly that's not the case, and the expansion of farmers markets with EBT has really proven that,' [USDA deputy secretary Kathleen] Merrigan added. And she's optimistic that more time spent at these markets can lead to other healthy lifestyle shifts as well. 'Hopefully some of those people are going to farmers markets on their bikes and walking,' she said."

Wednesday, May 9, 2012 in Grist

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight