There’s a simple phrase that means a lot to many people: E.B.T. Available. For people at Down to Earth Farmers Markets, it means that there is an Electronic Benefits Terminal available to process Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for the purchase of fresh, local food.
As of Sunday, June 9th, McGolrick Park’s Down to Earth Farmers Market will have E.B.T. available. (Cooper Park’s Down to Earth Farmers Market in East Williamsburg already does!)
“It takes a little behind the scenes effort to implement the electronic benefit terminals, such as filing paperwork with the state and training the market managers, but it’s work we are happy to complete,” said Frankie Rowland of Down to Earth Markets. “Our vendors also jump in to help out with some of the cost and administration of running the program. It’s a community effort to broaden the local food community!”
Also, beginning in July, the NYC Department of Health offers a $2 coupon for every $5 of SNAP benefits spent at one of our EBT markets. Please visit the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene at nyc.gov to learn more about this program.
And the farmers market continues to expand! At McGolrick Park, we now have FOUR local farms with amazing produce: Alex’s Tomato Farm, Great Road Farm, Garden of Eve, and Brooklyn Grange. They are all small-scale farms bringing seasonal fruits and vegetables, grown with care for the environment.
In addition to the growers, we now have fresh fish from American Pride Seafood, homemade tempeh from Grown in Brooklyn, pasture-raised poultry and meats from Stone & Thistle, and expert charcuterie from Brooklyn Cured. This market also has Horman’s Best Pickles (and we all know Nick named his company RIGHT), incredible breads from Orwashers, the best seasonal pies ever from Pie & Lady & Son, and locally-roasted nuts, nut butters, granola, and more from Tierra Farm.
AND have you visited the newest market vendor: La Newyorkina? She makes Mexican-style ice pops and frozen treats that are the perfect respite from the summer heat.
Want to help us get a compost drop-off site up and running at the McGolrick market? Stop by and talk to the market manager, Ellie, this Sunday. She’s taking down names of volunteers to create a compost program. The shifts would be only two hours long, every few weeks. (The more volunteers, the more weeks between the shifts.) We’ve been working with the wonderful ladies at BIG! Compost in Astoria to make this possibility. BIG! Compost will train all volunteers in one easy session. We hope to get this going as soon as this month. Join us.
McGolrick Park Market: every Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm, at the corner of Nassau Avenue and Russell Street.
Thank you for supporting your local farmers market!
Sponsored post courtesy of Down to Earth Markets.