Farmers Markets: Working with Community Partners to Provide Essential Services during COVID-19

• Main Authors: Shannon Klisch, Katherine Soule
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thomas A. Lyson Center for Civic Agriculture and Food Systems 2020-08-01
• Series: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development
• Subjects: Farmers Markets; COVID-19; Pandemic; CalFresh; SNAP; EBT
• Online Access: https://www.foodsystemsjournal.org/index.php/fsj/article/view/862

I will do whatever it takes to keep it open. —Farmers Market Manager in San Luis Obispo County on efforts to keep the markets open during the pandemic In San Luis Obispo (SLO) County, California, the SLO Food System Coalition hosts an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) at Farmers’ Markets Workgroup. Workgroup partners include representa­tives from food banks, public health departments, social services, University of California (UC) Cooper­ative Extension (UCCE), and local farmers market associations. The workgroup aims to increase the use of CalFresh (formerly known as food stamps, known nationally as SNAP) at famers markets in SLO County to foster (1) equitable access to healthy foods, and (2) support for local farmers. . . .