The TaSH Farmers Market Reaches Seniors, Vets and the Underserved

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September 3, 2015

The NEW Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow Farmers Market (the TaSH) has made strides toward making healthy, fresh, locally produced food more accessible to senior citizens, veterans and low-income residents.

The TaSH now accepts Farmers Market Nutrition Program checks available to both low-income mothers and to senior citizens, and also began accepting SNAP or food stamps.

Those who use their SNAP electronic benefits cards at the market can increase their spending power. For every $5 spent, the TaSH gives customers another $2 check to be spent at the market through the state’s Fresh Connect program. These are programs the TaSH applied and was accepted to.

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The TaSH has also received part of a federal grant through New Jersey-based City Green, a non-profit food justice organization, to help extend SNAP benefits. The money will double the value of SNAP purchases at the market.

“Everyone should have the opportunity to provide their families with fresh, nutritious meals and since there is a cost attached to providing produce from small, family-run farms rather than large farming conglomerates, we hope this program will help level the playing field for SNAP customers by increasing access to locally grown, picked-at-their-peak fruits and vegetables,” said Rachelle Gebler, vice president of Rivertowns Village Green (RVG), the non-profit, all volunteer, citizen-run organization that operates the TaSH. Gebler is also president of the Community Food Pantry of Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown.

The TaSH is actively seeking additional grants to continue to expand the Double Bucks program and help stretch the food dollar of SNAP participants even further.

Veterans also benefit from these programs. Vets are able to get Fresh Connect checks through their veterans organizations. They can get a coupon book worth $20.

Using these programs at the market is easy. Seniors can spend their Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program checks and new mothers can spend their FMNP/WIC checks directly with vendors of fruits and vegetables.

Veterans can spend their Fresh Connect checks with vendors who are eligible to accept SNAP benefits. These are most vendors at the market except those selling ready-to-eat foods.

For shoppers to use their SNAP EBT cards, they should stop by the TaSH tent at the market to swipe their cards and receive tokens to spend at the market.

“It has always been part of our organization’s mission to make the farmers market inviting and welcoming to all members of our community,” said Suzanne Sorrentino, RVG co-president. “So we are delighted that these programs are finally online and we hope the word gets out to all those who can benefit from them.”

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