Stop me if you've heard this one: There was once a program to give out free money to folks who were willing to do something environmentally friendly and healthy. To everyone's surprise, funding that was supposed to last several months started to run out much sooner. While those who created it were pleased to see it succeed, they were soon left scrambling to extend support.
The program I’m talking about isn't Cash for Clunkers from the federal government, but the Fresh Checks program at the Crossroads Farmers Market.
Like the nationwide offer of money for trading in gas-guzzling vehicles, the Fresh Checks program was intended to do something good for citizens and the community. Unlike the national program, though, renewing funding isn’t just a matter of a quick vote.
The market organizers now say that the program, which provides an extra $5 or $10 for fresh produce to low-income farmers market patrons each Wednesday afternoon, may end before the season is out. For the past four weeks, they have reduced the amount available to each family—from $5 to $3 per week—and discontinued the $10 voucher for first-time shoppers. This has already meant less income for the vendors and less of an incentive for the 74 percent of shoppers who qualify to keep coming.
As a recent piece in The Washington Post’s local food blog discussed, even at that rate, the funds may not stretch until the last market day on October 28. The shoppers who use federal food assistance and are therefore eligible for the additional funds might have to forgo that extra produce. "It's a catch-22," market manager Michele Levy told the All We Can Eat blog. "The more we've grown, the more we need."
To keep the popular program running, Levy and fellow staff members have reached out to the community. An email plea brought in $850 in private contributions in the first five days alone, but the campaign continues. It has to—giving out the original amounts, Crossroads often distributed over $1,000 in bonus Fresh Checks in a single market day.
Several markets in the D.C. area offer matching or bonus funds for fresh fruits and vegetables, which are sustained by grants. Crossroads is now applying for grants, but, Levy told me, none of them have come through yet.
Want to help tied them over? There are several ways to contribute:
- By cash or credit card. Stop by the Crossroads market on Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. or the Takoma Park Farmers Market on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2p.m. Visit the “market ATM” table to process your card.
- By check. Makes check payable to Crossroads Farmers Market and send to: Crossroads Farmers Market 7676 New Hampshire Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912.
- With a fashion statement. Buy a Crossroads Farmers Market T-shirt for $20. Send an order via email or stop by the market on Wednesdays to purchase one—or several.
- By purchasing a cookbook or attending the fundraiser. Send a request to join the mailing list and receive updates. The fundraiser is slated for late September.
Above: A market vendor, helpers, and a customer do business at the Crossroads Farmers Market. Photo by the author.
Comments
Sounds like a great program, Rhea - thanks for letting us know about it! Too bad it's having financial trouble. This is the kind of thing that would do wonders for individual health and for small farmers, too!
I agree with Paul, and I would add that it seems a migty inexpensive program -- far less expensive than something like C for C -- yet of far-reaching use, as families become healthier, more knowledgeable about good eating, and less hungry. Hope it finds ways to keep going.
That's true- it is quite inexpensive, though it does add up! It's heartening to see the community come to its aid.
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