Throughout the summer of 2020, the working group conducted outreach to raise awareness about the economic benefits of increasing access to CalFresh, and of making it possible to spend CalFresh benefits at the Farmers Market. These programs not only support the community but also the local growers and Farmers Markets themselves, said Diaz-Correa.
In Santa Barbara County, around 48% of low-income households are food-insecure. Many of these households rely on CalFresh to help keep food on the table. Yet some Farmers Markets, particularly in North County, do not accept the CalFresh EBT debit card as a method of payment. Nor do they offer the Market Match program that makes local food more affordable by doubling CalFresh dollars spent at the Farmers’ Market (up to a daily limit).
