The City Council recently released a report highlighting the success of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card scanners at Greenmarkets throughout the city. Council leaders held up the system’s success at Poe Park as a prime example of how well it’s working.
In 2000, EBT cards replaced food stamps in New York City, making it impossible for people on food stamps to buy goods at farmers markets. But in 2006, the council allocated funds to provide EBT scanners at four Greenmarkets throughout the city, including Poe Park.
EBT sales of fresh food at Greenmarkets exploded this year, doubling sales figures compared to a year ago. This year, Poe Park recorded the highest one day total of any EBT station to date, compiling $2,700 in fruit and vegetable sales.
“Because of the success of this program, we are getting this produce to people that need it and we’re helping our local farmers,” said Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
Council member Joel Rivera, chair of the health committee, said Greenmarkets are helping close that nutrition gap that exists in New York City. “Now anyone who wishes to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables, even if all they have are food stamps, can do so at most green markets; and clearly people are taking advantage of it,” he said.
admin
Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.