For the first time in its history, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has had its funding cut, which benefits and provides food to low-income families.
SNAP benefits were paused on November 1, but local farmers’ markets are already feeling the effects from the community. In California, CalFresh benefits are delayed due to the federal government shutdown.
When the benefits will resume is still unclear. As of Thursday afternoon, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP in November.
One of the farmers’ markets affected by the benefits being paused is the Florin Certified Farmers’ Market, which the Alchemist CDC runs.
Alchemist CDC is a nonprofit founded in 2004 and has a mission to connect communities in the greater Sacramento region to land, food and opportunity.
On Thursday, there was a small crowd of people who went to shop at the farmers’ market on Florin.
According to the CEO of the Alchemist CDC, Sam Greenlee, there has been low turnout at the Florin market due to uncertainty among CalFresh customers.
“They felt unsure they could still use their benefits. They didn’t know if we’d still be there making it possible to use their benefits,” Greenlee said. “So it was concerning to us, because there are six farmers’ markets where we do CalFresh and Market Match that operate year-round.”
Alchemist CDC offers a Market Match program to CalFresh recipients. The program allows people who shop at participating farmers’ markets to receive up to $15.
The Alchemist CDC’s Market Manager Saorise Scott said the line for the Market Match vendor stand has significantly less people than it typically does. People trickled in to get their benefits on Thursday, but according to Scott, there is usually a half hour wait in line for Market Match.
Greenlee said the farmers’ markets are still going on, and people can shop and double their EBT up to $15 per day with Market Match.
“That’ll let them buy fresh fruits and vegetables from the farmers,” he said. “So the program is still very much alive and well, with any benefits they do have.”
In 2024, Alchemist CDC facilitated over $1.4 million in CalFresh and Market Match spending at their nine local farmers markets. Without this interruption in November, they would be looking at over $1.7 million this year.
“But when you really break it down at the six markets that are still open for the year, the farmers there would have been expecting about $36,000 per week in CalFresh and Market Match purchases through November. So with EBT benefits not being funded, that money largely disappears.”
Sacramento resident Kimberly Harris visited the Florin farmers’ market on Thursday for the first time ever. Harris said the pause in benefits has caused her to buy food that’s not good for her, especially because she is a diabetic.
“I’m limited on things that I can eat,” Harris said. “So the more healthier the food is, the more expensive it is. So that makes it hard on my finances.”
Harris said getting fresh produce at farmers’ markets is essential because there are healthier options and the prices aren’t too bad.
One of the farms selling at the Florin market is Salle Orchards, a family-owned farm in Wheatland. They are currently selling winter squash, specialty pumpkins and walnuts.
Farmer Billie Jean Salle said they overplanted their crops because they anticipated normal funding, but now they face a surplus.
“So the farmer, if he does, either he can walk away from part of the crop, or he’s got to dump it at the markets, meaning selling it so cheap, just to try and recoup at least our plants, fertilizer, water and planting costs, because everything we do is by hand,” Salle said. “This is awful… and I’m listening to my neighbors, and they’re all bargaining very cheap, because they know they don’t have an opportunity to sell it.”
Salle noticed there were fewer customers than usual at the market. She said she has also had to offer deals on some of her products.
“What I’ve done is, on the walnuts, which we have never sold them that cheap. For the last five, six years, we’ve sold it for $50 a bag,” she said. “So this year, we’re offering an incentive, and they can buy four bags, they get the fifth bag free.”
Another farm being affected is the 40-year-old Twin Peaks Orchards in Newcastle, which produces a variety of summer and winter fruits, citrus and more.
Farmer Magda Morgan said she has noticed fewer people showing up at the market which is decreasing her sales.
“The people are so scared about what is going on,” Morgan said. “The benefit is going to go out, and it’s going to impact so heavy, not only the farmers, we’re going to get hurt too, but also the family who really needs this help to get their kid food on the table.”
To compensate for the decrease in sales, Morgan has had to lower prices.
“Especially this market at Florin, the people got big families, so that means they are looking for the best price we can,” she said. “Of course, we got to bring money to the farm, so we have to decrease the price. That way, we can bring money for the expenses. It’s so hard right now.”
Morgan urges the community to keep visiting the market.
“Especially for the consumers and for the customer, for the kids, for the old people, and also for the farmers.”
Keyshawn Davis is a communities reporter at CapRadio. CapRadio is a partner of The Intersection and CVJC.
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