In Touch: News from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission
January/February 2011

Pilot lets SNAP, TANF clients join the farmers market movement


In 2011, SNAP food benefit and TANF clients will find it much easier to join the millions of Texans who are rediscovering the nutritional benefits, cost savings and fun of buying food at farmers markets.

Image of Farmer's MarketNineteen farmers markets around the state are participating in a year-long pilot program in which the markets will receive electronic point-of-sale terminals that let SNAP clients use their Lone Star cards at the markets. Most of these terminals will be linked wirelessly to HHSCs benefits processing system. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Service.

Seven of the 19 farmers markets in the pilot program are in the San Antonio area, and others are in Lubbock, the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Corpus Christi, Abilene, and other Texas cities.

National program sponsors say the purpose of the pilot program is twofold. First, the program should demonstrate that wireless technology makes it possible to extend the SNAP program beyond traditional retail food stores. Second, the program will enable many more SNAP clients to access a fresh food source that nutritionists consider a powerful force for improving family health.

Increasing the number of farmers markets that accept the Lone Star card will help SNAP join forces with a growing movement to improve public health. The number of farmers markets in the United States has tripled to more than 5,200 in the past 15 years. According to USDA estimates, at least 5 million people per week shop at these markets.

So far in Texas, 15 of the 19 farmers markets participating in the pilot have been approved as SNAP participants by the federal Food and Nutrition Service. Below is a complete list of markets that accept the Lone Star card – those in the pilot as well as others that offered the service on their own.



Name

Location

Apple Country Farmers Market

1922 Ave A
Lubbock 79401

Austin Farmers Market

422 Guadalupe
Austin 78701

Barton Creek Farmers Market

2901 South Capital of Texas Highway
Austin 78746

Brownsville Farmers Market

1300 E. 6th St.
Brownsville 78520

City of Texarkana, Texas Farmers Market

305 Texas Blvd.
Texarkana 75501

Corpus Christi Southside Farmers Market

5800 Everhart Road
Corpus Christi 78413

Cowtown Farmers Market

3821 Southwest Blvd.
Fort Worth 76116

Goldthwaite Area Farmers Market

Corner of 16th South and Highway 183
Goldthwaite 76844

Keller Farmers Market

1100 Bear Creek Parkway
Keller 76248

Lufkin Farmers Market

2107 S. Medford Dr.
Lufkin 75901

Northside Farmers Market

Corner of North First Street and Mesquite Street
Abilene 79604

Pflugerville Farmers Market

901 Hutto Rd.
Pflugerville 78660

River Valley Farmers Market

410 Main Street (next to library)
Elgin 78621

Rufe Snow Farmers Market

6871 Rufe Snow Dr.
Fort Worth 76148

San Antonio Farmers Market

100 Jackson Keller (between San Pedro and McCullough)
San Antonio 78216

San Antonio Farmers Market

Leon Valley Community Center & Library -  6427 Evers Rd.
Leon Valley 78238

San Antonio Farmers Market

St. Jude Catholic Church
130 S San Augustine St.
 San Antonio 78237

San Antonio Farmers Market

San Antonio Botanical Gardens
555 Funston Place
San Antonio 78209

San Antonio Farmers Market

St. Matthews Catholic Church
11121 Wurzbach Rd.
San Antonio 78230

San Antonio Food Bank Farmers Market Association

115 Main Avenue
San Antonio 7`8205

Sharyland Orchards

2409 E. Mile 4 Rd.
Mission 78573

Southwest Farmers Market #1

9801 Bissonnet St.
Houston 77036

Sulphur Springs Farmers Market

200 Main St.
Sulphur Springs 75482

White Rock Local Market

702 North Buckner Blvd.
Dallas 75218