For Immediate Release: October 9, 2020
Contact: Spencer Moss, Executive Director
WV Food and Farm Coalition
(304) 926-0567
SNAP Stretch to Restart
Charleston, WV - The West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition, in partnership with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA), is excited to announce the restart of the SNAP Stretch program with funding made available through the Office of the Governor.
SNAP Stretch, a program of the West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition, has been doubling and tripling SNAP/EBT (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program/Electronic Benefits Transfer) dollars at farmers markets, on-farm stands, mobile markets, CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture Programs), and local retailers across the state since August 2018. This program is a triple bottom-line win for West Virginia as it captures both federal and philanthropic food assistance dollars within the state’s agricultural economy and increases buying power of low-income residents while increasing access to fresh, healthy foods.
At a participating farmers market, a SNAP/EBT user will bring their EBT card to the managers booth and ask to use their SNAP/EBT card on purchases. Typically, the market manager will issue a market script. Then, the market manager will also issue SNAP Stretch dollars in the form of script. For example, if the user asks to redeem $20 from their SNAP/EBT card, they will receive $20 in SNAP tokens and $20 in SNAP Stretch tokens. If the user has children or they are a senior citizen, they will receive an additional $20. So, a family with seniors or children would have $60 to spend at the farmers market.
This year was SNAP Stretch’s most successful, having utilized the entirety of funds available by the middle of the market season, the program put $158,000 into the local food economy and helped more 4,600 families gain access to locally produced food. To put that number in perspective, only $53,000 in SNAP Stretch dollars was utilized for the entirety of 2019. Due to this, SNAP Stretch sites across the state had to pause the program.
The pause of this program impacted both families and farmers that count on this program, particularly in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has caused job and wage losses in many families, leaving them in need of extra support to help meet their basic needs. SNAP Stretch helps address some of the effects of food insecurity that the pandemic has created or increased. SNAP Stretch helps families and individuals to stretch their monthly budget and also incentivizes them to shop at local markets that carry fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, and eggs from local farmers.
“The way you overcome a pandemic is with good nutrition. Now more than ever are our citizens relying on local producers for their food. Supporting the expansion of the SNAP Stretch program not only helps feed our most vulnerable, but put money straight back into our local economies,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt.
“Here in Preston County, there is a huge, huge demand and need for bulk produce for canning and freezing. That was the way my mom did it for years, I do it…[it’s] how we survive in the winter time around here.” said Kimberly Stemple who runs Metheny’s Farmers Market in Kingwood, WV. “A mother and daughter came to the market to purchase a bushel of green beans for canning, with SNAP Stretch, they were able to turn around and buy two more bushels of green beans. You could’ve probably told them they won the lottery…taking home their three bushels of green beans,” added Metheny.
“I am absolutely tickled beyond belief to be able to provide the funding that’s needed to keep this crucial program going strong through the end of the year,” Governor Jim Justice said. “This pandemic has been tough on so many of our great people in so many ways. But, at the end of the day, I’ve always said that we’re always going to do everything in our power to make sure every West Virginian has food on the table. I’m very proud that we have this wonderful program that helps everyone access healthy and nutritious foods and I’m so happy to be able to lend a hand where it’s needed.”
“SNAP Stretch benefits every single party involved. Everyone truly is a winner with this program. It benefits our customers. It benefits our growers. It places emphasis on WV growers and spotlights WV produce. It’s been a huge benefit to the market,” said Evan Osborn, Outdoor Market Manager for Capitol Market in Charleston, WV.
The West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition would like to thank the West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture, Kent Leonhardt, and his team along with Governor Jim Justice and his administration for their work in developing the collaboration which makes this project possible.
To learn more about SNAP Stretch, visit snapstretch.com or contact snapstretch@wvfoodandfarm.org.