Accepting food assistance benefits varied by market operator type at Sacramento region farmers markets

This study examines the availability of food assistance programming at certified farmers markets in the Sacramento region of California. These programs offer nutrition benefits to shoppers and economic benefits to direct-marketing farmers and the wider regional economy. We used surveys ( n = 59) and interviews ( n = 9) to ask market managers about acceptance of CalFresh (the program name for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in California), WIC/Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) and incentive programs. Food assistance programming was widespread: 59% of markets redeemed CalFresh, 64% accepted WIC/Senior FMNP benefits, 34% offered the incentive program Market Match and 14% offered another type of incentive. Regarding CalFresh, market managers reported that staffing needs, administrative work and lack of information were their top challenges. The most common concerns with FMNP were a perceived lack of customers, lack of participating farmers and lack of information. One of the most notable findings was that the market operator’s legal entity type was related to program acceptance: 80% of markets that accept CalFresh and 90% that offer incentives were operated by nonprofits, whereas only 14% of certified producer-operated markets accepted CalFresh and 5% offered incentives. The results point to the need to collaborate with markets operated by certified producers who are interested in accepting CalFresh and work with community organizations interested in partnering with markets to support the availability of food assistance programs.