Updated 01/03/2011 03:31 PM
Food Stamp Usage Nearly Doubles At City Greenmarkets
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City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and other local officials announced today a major rise in the use of food stamps at the city's Greenmarkets.
Food stamp usage nearly doubled between 2009 and 2010 – from $251,000 to more than $500,000.
Officials say more than 80 percent of all food stamp dollars spent were used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables.
This is all part of the increased push to find affordable, healthy food for low-income New Yorkers, many of whom have long lived in underserved neighborhoods.
For years, farmers' markets were unable to process food stamp cards, exacerbating the problem. Now card readers are available at 40 markets citywide.
To find a market near you, go to grownyc.org.