By Madyson Muresan
Staff Writer

Jessica Land holding an Oregon Trail token and card at the Oregon City Farmer’s Market on May 3rd. Photo by Madyson Muresan

Students can reap the full extent of your Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits at the Oregon City Farmer’s Market. The Oregon City Farmer’s Market has many programs for food-insecure families, such as their SNAP program, Double Up Food Bucks and the Power Of Produce club.

As the farmers market gets busier with spring and summer approaching, now is the time to get fresh, local produce with SNAP benefits.

“Historically, 46% of college students are food insecure. This program has allowed a lot of students to come over to the market and be able to use their benefits here locally,” said Jessica Land, market manager of the Oregon City Farmer’s Market.

The SNAP program works by scanning an EBT card at the information booth and processing the desired amount of money like a debit transaction. Then, the money is exchanged for $1 wooden tokens to spend at vendor booths at the market.

The DUFB program goes hand-in-hand with the SNAP program. The DUFB program will match the withdrawal from the EBT card, up to $20. Shoppers can potentially get up to an extra $20 from the farmers market to spend at the farmers market.

“It really increases the amount of nutrient-dense foods people eat,” Land said. “It supports local revenue, helps money stay within the local economy, and benefits families, along with all demographics. You know, anyone on SNAP.”

The POP program started at the Oregon City Farmer’s Market in May 2011 and is now a nationally recognized kids program. It aims to empower kids to make healthy food choices and educate them about where our food comes from. It is free for children ages 5 to 12 to join.

The POP program works by signing-up a child up at the information booth and checking in every time they visit the farmers market. By checking in, a child will receive $2 in tokens to use at the market. Every Saturday, there is a small activity for the children to participate in, and by doing so, they will receive an extra $1 to spend at the market.

“I get a lot of tokens for strawberries when I have berries and honey sticks. The idea is for the kids to buy their own stuff with those $3. And I love it because all the kids just come over and buy fruit.” Ronaldo Rodriguez, a farmer at the market, said.

Another program that the Oregon City Farmer’s Market participates in is the Women, Infants, and Children Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. This program allows WIC participants to use the coupons they receive from WIC to purchase SNAP-approved foods.

“WIC is a federally-funded program,” Land said. “It is for single mothers who meet a certain economic threshold, probably living close to or below the poverty line. They are given vouchers that they can then use at farmers markets.”

Employees at the Market Information Booth conversing. Photo by Madyson Muresan

There are a few catches with these programs, such as only being able to purchase SNAP-approved foods with the SNAP, DUFB or POP programs. These foods include vegetables, fruits, meats, dairy, seeds and nuts, mushrooms and baked goods.

Shoppers also can’t receive change back from vendors or the information booth when utilizing these programs, due to the tokens being given out in $1 increments. However, a majority of vendors at the market have made accommodations and have prices in round numbers.

While the farmers market is seeing a growth in attendance every Saturday, the future is still uncertain.

“Thankfully, you know, SNAP hasn’t been cut along with programs like SNAP. If it did, that would devastate this market in a major way,” Land said.

Although the farmers market looks forward, they have many plans in the works, such as a tent for winter markets and a collaboration with Clackamas Community College’s food pantry and free clinic.

The Oregon City Farmer’s Market runs every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. near the Clairmont building on CCC’s Oregon City campus.