Business & Tech

New Baltimore Farmers' Market Accepts Bridge Cards

The market in downtown New Baltimore will provide fresh farm goods to low-income shoppers with valid Bridge Cards.

This season, will accept Bridge Cards for the first time.

Made possible through a donation, the Bridge Card acceptance allows residents and shoppers from outside the community to get fresh foods for their family during regular Farmers' Market hours.

“Our vendors provide fresh, local and healthy food for all of our area’s residents,” said New Baltimore Farmers' Market manager Cynthia Paparelli. “It makes sense that improving access to fresh, healthy food will help those most in need.”

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Anyone interested in using their card at the market should bring it to the information table. There, they will receive tokens equivalent to their allotted spending. The tokens are valid throughout the market season.

According to , Michigan Farmers Markets Food Assistance Partnership is helping low-income consumers support their local farmers.

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This group received a grant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers Market Promotion Program to help enact Bridge Card use at Michigan farmers markets.

The project has three goals:

  • Expand the number of farmers markets in the state that accept Bridge Cards.
  • Support markets already involved in the Bridge Card program.
  • Maintain the Michigan Farmers Markets Food Assistance Partnership.

In 2009, 29 of the state's approximate 220 farmers' markets accepted Bridge Cards. The Michigan Farmers Markets Food Assistance Program's goal is to increase that amount to 50.

On a national level, the Farmers Market Coalition reports $4.3 million in benefits were redeemed at farmers markets across the country in 2009. The USDA lists more than 750 farmers markets across the nation accepting the cards.

The New Baltimore Farmers' Market is a project of local volunteer group Ride the Wave. It is open 8 a.m.-1 p.m.  Sundays from July 17 through Oct. 23 next to the on Washington Street in downtown New Baltimore. For more information, contact Cynthia Paparelli at 586-557-4841 or visit the group’s website at www.ridethewavenb.com.


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