July 21, 2010 |
2010-R-0308 | |
FARMERS' MARKETS AND FOOD STAMPS | ||
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By: Veronica Rose, Chief Analyst | ||
You want to know if any farmers' market in Litchfield County accepts food stamps. You also want to know if a person with a food stamp benefit card can participate in a community-supported agriculture plan.
The Department of Agriculture's (DOA) website shows 10 farmers' markets in Litchfield County for the 2010 season. Table 1 lists the markets, location, and operating times. It also shows the state assistance cards that the markets accept. Only two of the markets are equipped to handle electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards (the card that contains the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the food stamp program, benefits). These are the Litchfield Hills Farm Fresh Market and Norfolk Farmers' Market. More information on the markets is available on the DOA website at: http://www.ct.gov/doag/site/default.asp
We were unable to find any pertinent information on community-supported agriculture plans or programs in Connecticut. We will continue to research this issue and provide any information we find in a follow-up report.
Table 1: Farmers' Markets in Litchfield County, 2010
Market Name |
Location |
Operating Times |
Accepts WIC and Senior FMNP* |
Accepts WIC Fruit and Vegetable Checks** |
Accepts EBT*** |
Cornwall Farmers' Market |
413 Sharon Goshen Tpk. |
Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. June to October |
|||
Kent Farmers' Market |
Kent Green |
Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 12:00 noon May 8 to October 10 |
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Litchfield Hills Farm-Fresh Market |
Center School, 125 West Street |
Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. June 12 to October 23 |
yes |
yes |
yes |
New Hartford Farmers' Market |
Pine Meadow Green, Rte 44 and Church St. |
Fridays, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. May 21 to October 8 |
yes |
||
New Milford Farmers' Market |
Town Green, Main St. |
Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to noon May 8 to October 30 |
yes |
yes |
|
Norfolk Farmers' Market |
Route 44, Center of Town |
Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. May 29 to October 9 |
yes | ||
Thomaston Farmers' Market |
Seth Thomas Park, South Main St. Thomaston |
Thursdays, 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. July 8 to October |
yes |
yes |
|
Torrington Farmers' Market |
Downtown Shopping Center, 100 South Main St. |
Tuesdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. July 5 to October |
yes |
yes |
|
Watertown Farmers' Market |
Watertown Library Parking Lot, 470 Main St. |
Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. July 10 to September 11 |
|||
Woodbury Farmers' Market |
Hollow Park, 43 Hollow Road |
Wednesdays, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. July 7 to September |
yes |
*Both WIC clients (women, infants and children identified as “nutritionally at risk”) and eligible seniors receive benefits from the FMNP (Farmers' Market Nutrition Program) to use at participating farmers' markets.
**This program provides WIC clients with supplemental food benefits to buy certain fruits and vegetables at participating markets.
***These farmers' markets have the capability of accepting EBT cards.
Source: Connecticut Department of Agriculture
VR:ts