Food Stamps are Growing Popular the Downtown Syracuse Farmer's Market

7/14/2009

Syracuse, N.Y. - The Downtown Syracuse Farmer's Market food stamp program is becoming more and more popular says Chuck McFadden, the Market Manager. People using food stamps are able to swipe their Electronic Benefits Transfer, also known as an E.B.T. card, and receive an equal amount in tokens that can be spent at the Farmer's Market. The program was started last year with help from the Farmer's Market Federation of New York, who purchased the card terminal for the market. McFadden says the program’s popularity grows weekly "it climbs every week, last week I went through 1000 tokens so that’s an extra $1000 that was spent down here at the market last week that wouldn't be here if it wasn't for E.B.T.,” said McFadden. He also says, the program has been beneficial for the farmers as well. Vic Walters, a farmer from Walker, says the tokens add up to "quite a bit." The Downtown Syracuse Farmer's Market can be found every Tuesday until October, between 7 A.M. and 4 P.M., at the corner of S. Salina and W. Washington Streets.