BATH
The Bath Farmers’ Market will accept electronic benefits transfer cards to allow more local residents to be able to purchase items using food stamp benefits.
The market offers a variety of nutritious foods including fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses and breads from local Maine farms.
In addition, an incentive program has been created to help food stamp recipients stretch their monthly benefits: For every $4 spent in food stamp benefits, an individual will be given an additional $1 in “market money tokens” to spend at the market; a person also will receive $5 extra in tokens for every third visit to the market that an individual uses food stamps.
Making healthful food options available to more people helps support community growers and provides nutrition for local families, proponents said.
“The goal is to increase access for everyone to enjoy quality, nutritious foods,” said Melissa Fochesato, director of Access Health. “We are fortunate to partner with Main Street Bath to allow more people, regardless of their income, to have choices to improve their health.”
“It’s a win-win situation for us,” said Jennifer Geiger, executive director of Main Street Bath. “It supports our mission to make downtown Bath a preferred retail destination, by making it more convenient to shop at the Bath Farmers Market. Plus, it’s good for the community.”
People interested in using EBT cards or electronic debit cards can visit the market information booth to receive tokens in any amount requested.
Vendors that accept tokens will display a sign at their location.
From November through April, the Bath winter farmers market is held Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon, at the Bath Freight Shed, 27 Commercial St.
The benefit cards program was made possible with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in partnership with MaineHealth and Access Health, a Healthy Maine Partnership coordinated by Mid Coast Hospital and Main Street Bath.
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