For years now, an on-going debate among nutrition experts, policymakers, and the general public has ensued regarding the use of food stamps and the consumer's right of choice.
Should food stamps be used for purchase of soda and other sweetened beverages, in light of our country's ever-growing obesity rates (both in children and adults) and cases of type II diabetes — and in the midst of a health care crisis?
Nutritionists and medical experts confirm soda and sweetened drinks are only adding insult to injury to a population whose health issues and weight-related risks increase annually.
And while people are reluctant to give up their right to choice at the supermarket — with or without government assistance — many feel tax-payer dollars should only be used for food deemed "healthy" when it comes to helping our neighbors feed their families during hard times.
The counter-argument, of course, comes from the corporations that stand to lose a pretty penny if food stamps can no longer be used to purchase their products. These soft drink companies are fighting the food stamp ban as we speak.
But it seems fewer conversations have focused on what seems like a very obvious question (to me, at least):
Why are we not expanding the places food stamps are accepted that provide MORE choices for affordable, nutritious food?
Enter: the farmers' market and Wholesome Wave.
Farmers' markets provide people who are not receiving government assistance to feed their families with local, and generally cheaper, options for nutritious food.
Why would the same option not be extended to those using food stamps?
Wholesome Wave is a nonprofit organization that brings fresh, local food to families in inner cities — and its work with farmers' markets across the country aims to do just that.
Michel Nischan is a chef and restaurant owner in Connecticut, and a longtime advocate for a more healthful, organic and sustainable food future — both in his business and in the greater community.
In 2001 and 2002, he began working with like-minded friends, donors, and community members, creating what would become the board of directors for an organization to bring sustainable local agriculture to communities that otherwise couldn't afford nutritious produce...
At the heart of their mission to increase access to and affordability of healthy, fresh locally grown food, the organization accepts food stamps.
Wholesome Wave created the Double Value Coupon Program, which allows families to get double their money's worth of food when they use the food stamps at participating farmers' markets across the country — providing savings and incentive for families to buy healthy foods:
Wholesome Wave’s core Nourishing Neighborhood program is the successful Double Value Coupon Program, which doubles the value of Federal Food Stamps, now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), when used at participating farmers' markets nationwide.
Wholesome Wave’s Double Value Coupon Program improves the effectiveness of the SNAP program, as well as the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the Farmers Market Nutrition Programs (FMNP) and the Senior FMNP.
The Double Value Coupon program took flight in 2008 at 12 farmers' markets across Connecticut and Massachusetts and in California.
In three years' time, it has expanded to more than 160 farmers’ markets in 20 states and Washington, D.C.
Check out this feature on Wholesome Wave:
Brigid
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