CalFresh funds for farmers markets are in the crosshairs

Market Match helps CalFresh recipients double benefits to buy fresh produce at nearly 300 California farmers markets. A pickle vendor who sells enough to cover her own needs says the program brings additional shoppers who might otherwise save money. The doubled tokens also encourage visitors to stop at specific booths and purchase related items such as hot sauce and sauerkraut. Introduced in 2015, Market Match faces potential elimination after a revised state budget omitted a critical food safety net program. Advocates warn the program could end in March 2027 if changes are not made before June 15. State management expects legislative support to keep it running, noting that renewal is not automatic and priorities can shift.

"“Luckily enough, I now sell enough pickles that I don't have to,” said Paone, the founder of Golden State Pickle Works. Many of her farmers market customers use CalFresh's Market Match component, allowing them to double the benefits they receive to buy fresh produce at nearly 300 California farmers markets."

"“I benefit from it because it brings more people to the market who might otherwise save their money,” said Paone, working her booth Saturday at Berkeley's Downtown Berkeley Farmer's Market. “But because there's a Market Match, you get tokens to spend on more food that's available,” Paone said. “We get visitors who actually stop at the pickle booth, who might pick up that hot sauce or take that jar of sauerkraut, who might not otherwise.”"

"Introduced in 2015, Market Match is now on the chopping block. Just days after Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a revised state budget on May 14 that he said eliminates California's deficit, a coalition of food access and farmers markets advocates said that the budget left out a critical food safety net program. According to the Save Market Match Coalition, without changes to the budget before June 15, the Market Match program will vanish in March 2027."

"Portia Bramble is the food and farming director of Berkeley's Ecology Center, which manages Market Match statewide. She said the program - also funded by federal matching money - will likely get enough legislative support to survive. Bramble said the state doesn't automatically renew the program because California has such a big economy, priorities shift with political winds and officials like to be nimble. “The likelihood we get this funding is high,” Bramble said."

Read at The Oaklandside