CFC Supports AB 537 (Arambula) - Improving Access to Farmer's Markets
by Consumer Federation of California
May 12th, 2009
Bill Update: SB 537 (Arambula) is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Human Services Committee as of 6/14/2010.
CFC Position: Support
AB 537 would make food sold at farmers markets more readily available for purchase by consumers who use food stamps, by requiring certified farmers’ markets to operate an Electronics Benefits Transfer (EBT) acceptance system, or to allow a third party Food Nutrition Service to operate an EBT system at the market.
Farmers’ markets are an important alternative to supermarkets, offering locally grown fresh produce and other food at reasonable prices. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the certified farmers markets do not participate in the EBT program, and this makes it impossible for food stamp recipients to purchase food from farmers and merchants at these non-participating markets.
The Department of Social Services provides free EBT equipment to farmers’ markets on a voluntary basis. About 20% of all farmers’ markets are set up to process food stamps. At a time of widespread unemployment and increasing poverty, it is essential that farmers’ markets have a requirement to accept food stamps, either through direct participation or by permitting third parties to run an on-site electronic acceptance program.
AB 537 will eliminate the barriers that prevent many of our state’s neediest consumers from taking advantage of the nutritional alternatives available at farmers’ markets.
CFC urges the legislature to support this important bill.
Votes:
1/27/2010
Assembly Floor - Yes: 66, No: 3, Absent: 9
1/21/2010
Assembly Appropriations - Yes: 12, No: 4, Absent: 1
4/29/2009
Assembly Agriculture - Yes: 8, No: 0, Absent: 0
