Farmers’ Market at Pimilico First in Baltimore City to Accept EBT (Food Stamps)

(Pictured from left to right are: Holly Freishtat, Baltimore City Food Policy Director; Willie Flowers, Executive Director, Park Heights Community Health Alliance; Eric Ratchford, USDA; Kimberley Chin, Maryland Hunger Solutions; Karen Evans, Chair, Board of Directors, Park Heights Community Health Alliance; Will & Jada Smith Family Foundation; Kirk Wilborne, USDA; Lucretia Wilson, Assistant Executive Director, Park Heights Community Health Alliance)

The Park Heights Community Farmers’ Market at Pimlico opened on Wednesday, June 2, becoming the first farmers’ market in Baltimore City to accept food stamp benefits via wireless EBT (electronic benefit transfer). As an added bonus, customers using their EBT cards will receive “Baltimore Bucks vouchers” enabling them to double their food stamp dollars up to $5 at the market.

By providing grant support for this market to accept EBT cards, Maryland Hunger Solutions hopes to increase access to farmers’ markets by food stamp participants. Two other farmers’ markets in Baltimore City received support from MDHS to accept food stamp benefits: the Waverly/32nd Street Farmers Market (opening June 12) and the Highlandtown Farmers’ Market (opening July 10). These markets will also be giving out Baltimore Bucks vouchers to customers who use their EBT cards.

Over the last decade, the Food Stamp Program (recently renamed the Food Supplement Program in Maryland) transitioned from the use of paper coupons to EBT cards. One of the most challenging venues for creating EBT capacity has been farmers’ markets, which often have limited financial resources and limited access to electricity. With the installation of wireless EBT machines at even a handful of farmers’ markets in the city, the buying power at farmers’ markets of Baltimore’s 169,000 food stamp participants could be significantly increased, thereby improving the health and nutrition of low-income families and benefiting the farmers who sell their products in the city.

In addition to food stamp benefits, these markets will also be accepting debit cards; a benefit for customers who typically do not carry cash. This will help to attract new customers to the three markets, while providing a new way to shop for current customers.

This project is sponsored by Maryland Hunger Solutions and is made possible by support from the Abell Foundation, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, and the Wholesome Wave Foundation.