One American city just made a very healthy choice that will hopefully catch on in other states. EBT cards can now be used to purchase fresh food from every farmers market in all of Los Angeles, California. CalFresh EBT cards are the modern equivalent to food stamps. The LA City Council unanimously approved the ordinance this week. Garret Snyder with LA Weekly reports:
It's estimated that more than a million people in the L.A. area rely on CalFresh to buy groceries each month, according to L.A. County data, and while the EBT program is accepted at fast-food outlets such as KFC, Taco Bell and 7-Eleven, using it to buy local, fresh fruits and vegetables has been a somewhat byzantine process.
City Councilmember Jose Huizar, who proposed the the motion, believes the new policy will create a “fair farmers market system that ensures all Angelenos, regardless of income level, have access to healthy foods.” The ordinance is expected to go into effect over the next six months.
Under the new process, market managers will operate a digital EBT card-reader booth that dispenses vouchers, which then can be used to purchase food from certified vendors. The vendors are reimbursed dollar-for-dollar, ensuring that the transaction is as beneficial for farmers as it is for the public.
The idea was first presented by the Los Angeles Food Policy Council and Los Angeles Community Action Network.
Cheers to Jose Huizar, the Los Angeles City Council, and all those involved in making this happen. And here’s to hoping this great idea goes viral and becomes the norm around the country.