SPRINGFIELD – Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance Commissioner Stacie Monahan used a Tuesday visit to the Farmers' Market at Forest Park to urge low income residents to include fresh local fruits and vegetables in their shopping choices.
Monahan made the stop as part of a statewide tour of farmers’ markets to raise awareness of healthy eating options for low income residents including markets that accept payments under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Access to healthy food options is a challenge for many low income people in many cities, due to issues such as transportation, Monahan said. The issue has been referred to as “food deserts,” she said.
“So if you lack access to transportation, or if there is not a supermarket on public transportation, it might be really hard to get to a place that has fresh produce,” Monahan said.
The average SNAP benefit in Massachusetts is $237 a month “so it is a very modest benefit to feed your whole family, Monahan said.
“We are really looking for ways to both promote healthy eating and access to affordable food,” Monahan said.
At farmers markets, typically the produce lasts longer and there are sometimes incentive programs offered, Monahan said.
Arlee Cole of Springfield, among the shoppers, said it is better for families to shop for local foods, such as the farmers markets, because it helps the local economy “and keeps people from eating a lot of junk,”
“You can come here and get real food,” said Cole, who has a five-year-old and is expecting. “I try to catch the farmer markets as often as possible.”
She receives Women, Infants and Children (WIC) assistance.
Belle Rita Novak, the Forest Park market manager, said the message is that is very important to include fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods in your diet.
"We take credit, debit, and EBT cards here,” Novak said. “We also accept WIC coupons and elder coupons. And those are for fruits and vegetables also. If we can get people to come and they see how good the stuff is, and how fresh it is and how long it stays fresh, hopefully they will keep coming back.”
The Farmers Market at Forest Park is outdoors on Tuesdays, through October, and then moves indoors