Fresh food near me5/15/2023 ![]() Excluded plants are those grown for decorative or ornamental purposes, or which are known to be toxic to humans (so daffodils, hemlock, and - the name is kind of a giveaway - deadly nightshade are all off the list). Herb and spice plants are eligible, as well as edible roots (i.e., asparagus), bushes (like strawberry and other berry bushes), and bulbs (such as garlic, onions, and shallots). This includes packets of garden seeds for fruits, vegetables, and other plant foods. Since SNAP is meant to combat hunger, most of the items that are SNAP-eligible are what you’d expect: fruits and vegetables meat, poultry, and fish dairy products bread and cereal grains snack foods and nonalcoholic beverages.īut here’s the thing: seeds and plants that can grow to produce food are also eligible under SNAP. Why Garden Seeds and Plants are SNAP-Eligible Here’s a link to find the one where you live: SNAP State Directory of Resources. If you or someone you know may be eligible, you have to contact your local state office to apply. In North Carolina, for example, a family of four can receive some SNAP assistance if their combined income is less than 200% of the poverty level in this case $4,626 per month. Each state has a slightly different application form and process to determine eligibility. SNAP is generally for people who are disabled and/or are living at, below, or up to double the federal poverty line. These include income, assets, job or student status (for example, striking workers are not eligible), and household size. Who Is Eligible for SNAP Benefits?Ī household must meet certain requirements to be eligible for SNAP and receive benefits. For example, at the moment, the USDA is experimenting with “ Double Up Bucks” (a program available on a limited basis in 25 states in which the value of SNAP dollars doubles when used to purchase fruits and vegetables) and other programs to support health among low-income recipients. And given the stress of living in poverty, it’s completely understandable that people are drawn to inexpensive pleasures that don’t require a lot of preparation and that kids will reliably consume without complaint.īut the intention of improving nutritional value is still present, with new initiatives and experiments bubbling up to achieve that aim. Some of the eligible food items on SNAP include chips, candy, snack crackers, ice cream, and soft drinks. ![]() The program still has a long way to go on the nutrition front. Instead, participants are issued reloadable EBT debit cards to purchase food. Another reason they were renamed was that the program no longer uses stamps. SNAP benefits used to be referred to as “food stamps” (officially, the Food Stamp Program) until they were renamed as part of the 2008 Farm Bill to emphasize their intended function of providing an improvement in nutrition. SNAP is a US-based federal program that assists low-income individuals and families with purchasing food. I’ll also mention some additional resources for gardening on the cheap. In this article, I’ll share a brief overview of how to take advantage of SNAP benefits to buy seeds and plants, and how to navigate the challenges that might arise. Unfortunately, very few SNAP recipients are aware of this ruling, and there are significant obstacles to getting retailers to participate and accept EBT for those purchases.īut with an increase in food shortages and supply disruptions, the ability to grow your own food is a worthwhile one to pursue, no matter what your income. However, aside from food, one of the little-known benefits of SNAP is the ability to buy seeds and plants with an EBT card (Electronic Benefits Transfer) to grow your own food. ![]() ![]() SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, allows recipients to spend government benefits on a variety of foods, including fresh produce. While these programs are a lifeline, they don’t all have the ability to offer fresh, healthy food. But households in the lowest income quintile end up spending over 30% of their income on food, compared to the highest income quintile which only spends about 8%.Īs a result, people living at or near the poverty line often have to rely on food banks or food pantries. Since food is a necessity, the line item for groceries is not an optional expense. But many more people are suffering from persistent food insecurity. Nearly 12% of the US population - roughly 38 million people - live in poverty. In the US, fast and processed foods are more readily available in low-income areas than fresh, whole foods, leading to gripping health inequality in poverty-stricken areas. One of the devastating hallmarks of poverty is unequal access to food, particularly nutritious food.
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