Bridging the Gap: SNAP & our Farmers

Each dollar in federally funded SNAP benefits generates an estimated $1.79 in economic activity. Yet in many states, SNAP access is structurally concentrated toward large retailers instead of local food systems.

In Mississippi, less than 20% of farmers markets are SNAP certified. In a state with some of the highest rates of food insecurity in the nation, that should concern us. Expanding SNAP access at farmers markets is one practical way to address hunger while also strengthening local economies and improving health.

Research shows that expanding SNAP access at farmers markets can:

Increase the prices farmers receive for their products by 40 – 70% compared to wholesale channels
Generate additional economic activity for nearby small businesses and local communities
Increase fruit and vegetable consumption among SNAP recipients while reducing diet-related health burdens
Significantly increase produce sales and overall market revenue through incentive programs like “Double Up Food Bucks”

There are several common misconceptions surrounding hunger, SNAP, and farmers markets that deserve closer examination.

Myth 1: Hunger is a scarcity problem
- Reality: Hunger is often an access and distribution problem. Food can exist within a community while still remaining economically or geographically inaccessible to the people who need it most.
Myth 2: SNAP is simply welfare spending
- Reality: SNAP functions as local economic stimulus. When benefits are spent at farmers markets, farmers earn more income, surrounding small businesses benefit from increased traffic, and dollars circulate within local communities instead of concentrating in national retail chains.
Myth 3: Farmers markets are niche or luxury spaces
- Reality: Farmers markets can serve as frontline public health infrastructure. Access to fresh, nutritious food improves diet-related outcomes, reduces long-term healthcare costs, and strengthens community resilience.

So what can we do?

Advocate for our cities and towns to pursue SNAP authorization for their farmers markets and implement EBT systems or token programs that make benefits easier to use. Our state and local policymakers can fund SNAP certification assistance programs, provide funding for EBT equipment, support incentive programs like “Double Up Food Bucks”, and streamline the certification process for markets seeking SNAP certification.

Expanding SNAP access at farmers markets is not just about food access. It is about aligning public dollars with local economic growth, stronger agricultural systems, healthier communities, and more resilient local economies.

The Dirt on Policy