Pilot program to provide access to locally grown food

The Georgia Office of Financial Services, Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Office and the East Atlanta Village Farmers Market are launching a pilot program designed to provide low-income residents access to fresh, locally grown and produced food.

The EBT Farmers Market Pilot will be introduced by the Georgia EBT Office and its partners on Thursday, July 17, 2008, at 5:00 p.m. at the East Atlanta Village Farmers Market, located in the Ace Hardware parking lot at 1231 Glenwood Avenue, Atlanta.

As part of the program, Georgia food stamp recipients can use their EBT cards to purchase special tokens to buy fresh, locally grown produce and locally produced foods directly from farming vendors at the community-based farmers markets.

“I am glad we are able to assist in this program,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin.  “This will benefit both farmers and city dwellers.  We want as many people as possible to purchase Georgia Grown products.”

The East Atlanta Village Farmers Market is one of four farmers markets participating in the pilot program throughout the state. The pilot is a collaborative effort including the following agencies: Georgia Department of Human Resources consisting of the Office of Financial Services, Division of Family and Children’s Services, Division of Aging Services and Division of Public Health; USDA Food and Nutrition Service, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, DeKalb Cooperative Extension Service, Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Organics and local non-profit organizations.

“We support opening markets, whether they are overseas or here in our own neighborhoods,” said Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture Terry Coleman.  “These local markets are especially important in these times of high gasoline prices.  They are an asset to neighborhoods and to our farmers.”

A farm-fresh cooking demonstration and live music will be part of the July 17th event. 

The East Atlanta Village Farmers Market is an open-air, handicapped accessible facility open on Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. until dusk.

For more information about the EBT Farmers Market Pilot, contact the EBT office at 404-657-3706 or cahayes1@dhr.state.ga.us. For more information about the East Atlanta Village Farmers Market, contact Jonathan Tescher, Market Manager, at 404-275-4064 or jt@abright21st.com.

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