Toledo food stamp program at farmers’ market slow to take off

In an effort to encourage more healthy food purchases among the area’s low-income residents, the farmers’ market in Toledo started a pilot program two years ago to allow food stamps in electronic form. So far, the program has failed to attract much interest among food stamp users (Source: “Farmers' market trying to attract food stamp users,” Toledo Blade, Sept. 7, 2008).

According to the Lucas County Department of Job and Family Services, only about $1,500 of the $83 million county residents spent on food stamps last year was used at the farmers’ market. Officials hope a recent matching program sponsored by ProMedica and a potential weekly farmers’market in the parking lot of the county DJFS office next year will increase interest.