FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Alisa Costa
518.436.8757 x122
Albany
NY—April 9, 2013- Everyday people make tough decisions between paying heating
bills, medical bills, rent, or buying groceries. For struggling New Yorkers every dollar makes
a difference. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the new
name for the Food Stamp Program, can help make these decisions a little easier,
while benefiting the local economy at the same time.
Federally
funded SNAP benefits help struggling families
afford food. Money is automatically deposited in participants’ accounts that
are accessed using an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card. Participants may
choose to buy most foods and food-producing seeds and plants from approved
local stores, bodegas and farmers’ markets.
Purchases
made with SNAP have an economic ripple effect. Recipients spend benefits
immediately at local stores. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA), every $5 in SNAP food purchases generates more than $9 in economic
activity.
Grocery stores have experienced an increase in SNAP
purchases in the last several years.
“Stores which did not take SNAP benefits in the past found a dramatic
increase in requests from recipients and immediately became vendors,” said
Mitch Klein of Krasdale Foods. “Our
supermarkets play an important role in the community by providing quality at
competitive prices, in addition to all the jobs for the community that the
store is situated in.” In 2012, more
than $5 billion in SNAP benefits were used across the state. “While the
supermarket is a business for profit, we are also keenly aware that what we
offer is critical to the wellbeing of families therefore we need a high level
of in-stock products that will fit the budget of all our customers while also
finding ways to provide the consumer with even greater savings,” he said.
SNAP
benefits are helping farmers too. According to the USDA, on average, $1 billion
of retail food demand by SNAP recipients generates 3,000 farm jobs across the
United States.
When
SNAP purchases are made at farmers markets, the benefits stay local. Throughout
New York State, more than 210 farmers markets accept SNAP EBT payments.
Recipients can leverage even more dollars through healthy food incentive
programs.
Local
farmers, especially at farmers’ markets, are seeing a difference. “If it wasn’t
for SNAP we wouldn’t be at some of these farmers’ markets. It’s close to 50-70%
of our sales,” said Ken Migliorelli, owner of Migliorelli Farm in Tivoli, NY.
“I think it’s a great program, beneficial to farmers and our company. It’s a
win, win situation for everyone involved.”
According
to the Farmers’ Market Federation of New York State, in 2011, New Yorkers spent
about $2.6 million using EBT cards at farmers markets, the second highest
amount in the country. This spending was up 34 percent from 2010 thanks to more
farmers’ markets accepting EBT.
New
Yorkers having trouble affording food can learn more about SNAP and other
nutrition assistance programs through the Nutrition Outreach and Education
Program (NOEP). NOEP is available in 52
counties and every borough in New York City to provide outreach, education, and
application assistance.
To find a local NOEP provider or to learn more about SNAP and
other nutrition assistance programs, visit www.FoodHelpNY.org.
# # #
Hunger
Solutions New York is a statewide organization dedicated to alleviating hunger
for all New Yorkers. For more information visit www.HungerSolutionsNY.org.
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