HB 1535 is an interesting concept, but as written is a little confusing to me. It requires the division of family resources to implement a program to provide retailers who sell food at a farmers’ market with wireless point of sale terminals that are connected to the electronic benefits transfer (EBT) system. However, the division may limit, to a number not less than twenty (20), the number of wireless point of sale terminals that are connected to the EBT system; and issued to a retailer who sells food at a farmers’ market.
My uncertainty based on how the bill is written is as to whether that 20 terminal minimum is state-wide or per-retailer. Twenty terminals statewide seems like a very small number, and twenty terminals per retailer seems like an unreasonably large number.
Still, the basic concept of letting food assistance money be spent at farmer’s markets seems like a very good idea. Folks who need assistance can thereby get the food at those markets which is often healthier; and local farmers and retailers would be able to profit from such sales.
Not to mention the “food miles” saved by eating local foods. Lots of carbon is given off when food is shipped hundreds or thousands of miles. Much less is used to drive food to a farmer’s market. And there are plenty of other benefits to eating locally. Local honey is believed to help with allergy symptoms. Fresh food also does not require preservatives. Indiana should be leading the nation in local food production, as many communities still have a large reliance on local food. My mother canned most of the vegetables we ate when I grew up. My entire family pitched in raising gardens, and made sure everyone had a year’s worth of veggies for canning. It’s a great communitarian model for agriculture.
Bargains are to be had at farmers’ markets, too, so a dollar can be stretched. My favorite vendor regularly sells beautiful medium size eggplants for 75 cents apiece, a similar one from who knows where in the grocwry store would be at least $2. He also sells blemished tomatoes for about 50 cents a pound, but you can’t even find the blemishes on most of them.
Ohhh, can’t wait for the season to begin!