Farmers Market News

Texans who get SNAP benefits can totally use them at farmers markets

Produce is the best thing to buy, SNAP or not.

Photo by Michael Martin

The Texas Center for Local Food, a nonprofit dedicated to developing healthy local food, has a message for families who are getting food assistance: Spend it at your local farmers market.

According to a release, the group has initiated a new project to promote the use of SNAP benefits at farmers markets in Texas, via a one-year grant of $439,951 from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, using funds allocated to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, as part of the Farm Bill. Hoo boy, that is a lot of groups with capital letters.

SNAP is Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the Food Stamp program, which provides food assistance to low-income households.

Based on figures from 2019-2020, more than $400 million dollars in SNAP payments are made in Texas every month, with an average 12.4 percent or 1.6 million Texans receiving benefits.

SNAP benefit recipients are allowed to use their SNAP cards to buy fresh, local food at farmers markets.

In the DFW area, these farmers markets currently accept Lone Star Cards:

Dallas Farmers Market, 920 S. Harwood St. (Saturdays 9 am-5 pm, Sundays 10 am-5 pm year round)
White Rock Farmers Market, 9150 Garland Rd. (Saturdays, 8 am-12 pm, March-December)
Lakewood Village Farmers Market, 6434 E Mockingbird Rd. (Sundays, 9 am-2 pm, February-August)
Cowtown Farmers Market, 3821 Southwest Blvd., Fort Worth. (Saturdays, 8 am-12 pm year round)
Denton Community Market, 317 W. Mulberry St., Denton. (Saturdays 9 am-1 pm April-November)

But there are obstacles getting in the way of that happening:

No. 1: Many SNAP recipients don't know they can use their SNAP cards at farmers markets.

According to 2020 statistics from Texas Center for Local Food, Texas ranked 47th out of the 50 states in SNAP sales at farmers markets.

"Farmers markets are a critical link in the local food system, and lower-income families have access to fresh, local food — but too many don’t know it — yet!" says Sue Beckwith, Texas Center for Local Food executive director. "Our new project will get more Texas-grown, farm fresh produce onto SNAP recipients' tables."

No. 2: Farmers markets face multiple hurdles to accepting SNAP.

For starters, farmers markets need help setting up and using the equipment for SNAP processing, says Susie Marshall, Executive Director of Grow North Texas, a SNAP-ED project partner.

"The equipment required to process SNAP is different from normal card processing equipment. It requires its own setup and specialized training," Marshall says. Her group provides technical assistance to help farmers markets adopt and use the equipment.

Another hurdle for farmers markets accepting SNAP is the cost of the equipment and processing. But the Texas Center for Local Food can help offset those costs. To find out how or become a member, visit TexasLocalFood.org/Join-Us.

Based in Elgin, Texas, the Texas Center for Local Food was created in 2016 by small farmers and ranchers to strengthen the economic viability of Texas communities and family farms by making the local food system economically stronger.

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This week in gluttony

Pork chops sizzle in 7 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

perrysteakhouse.com

The famous pork chop at Perry's Steakhouse & Grille.

Temperatures are still hot but the grand opening of a new Italian ice and frozen custard shop will help keep things cool this week. A pizza joint's 10th anniversary provides for pies at a price that's easy on the wallet, and there's also a steal of a deal on a legendary steakhouse pork chop come Thursday. Plan for a family-friendly brewery birthday party come Saturday.

Tuesday, August 25

Pie Tap 10th Anniversary
The Dallas pizza chain known for its multi-day fermented sourdough crust will celebrate 10 years in business with $10 pizzas at all seven DFW locations. Choose from options like hot pepperoni with jalapenos and hot honey; and mushroom with caramelized onion with fontina cheese and a farm egg. Guests will want to visit throughout the rest of August as well, as Pie Tap is also randomly picking up patron tabs as a “thank you” to the communities that have supported the brand over the past decade.

iichiko Shochu x Midnight Rambler
The subterranean speakeasy under The Joule will welcome guest bartender George Kailho of Tei-An for an educational happy hour celebrating 100 years of Japanese cocktail culture in conjunction with iichiko Shochu, a native spirit of Japan. A seminar for industry professionals starts at 4 pm followed by happy hour at 5 pm (open to the public, no reservation required) featuring three Japanese cocktails by Kailho: the Million Dollar, Bamboo, and Lemon Sour. The event will run until 7 pm.

Wednesday, August 26

Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard Grand Opening
The world’s largest Italian ice concept will celebrate the opening of its new shop in Carrollton (4213 N. Josey Lane) with sweet giveaways. The first 50 guests will receive a Rita’s gift bag with merch, and in select bags, a golden ticket good for a week’s worth of Italian ice or frozen custard. The Pennsylvania-based brand opened a North Richland Hills location in July, and locations in Farmers Branch and Flower Mound will follow later this year. The grand opening will take place at 12 noon.

Thursday, August 27

National Pork Chop Day at Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille
Perry’s enormous pecan-wood roasted pork chop has anchored the steakhouse’s menu since its early beginnings in Houston. Now the restaurant will celebrate the signature dish (in conjunction with National Pork Chop Day) with a four-course dinner. Highlights from the prix-fixe menu include skewers of pork chop “bites,” white bean pork chili, Perry’s famous 18-ounce pork chop, and orange vanilla cream cheesecake. The dinner is $44 and is available after 4 pm by request. Perry’s has locations in Dallas, Frisco, and Grapevine.

A Lucky Pairing: Chef’s Dinner with Suerte Tequila at Ollie’s Azul House
Suerte means “luck” in Spanish, and Ollie’s Azul House in Rowlett will toast to buena suerte during this four-course tequila pairing dinner featuring four expressions of Suerte Tequila. The menu includes shrimp aguachile with blanco tequila, charred octopus with still strength tequila, duck breast with mole negro with reposado tequila, and olive oil cake with anejo tequila. The dinner is $55 and will run from 7-9 pm.

Saturday, August 29

Lakewood Brewing 14th Anniversary
The Garland brewery will mark 14 years with a day-long anniversary bash. The free-to-attend, family-friendly event will feature live music, local vendors, food from the Lakewood kitchen, and lots of craft beer, including a special American barley wine called Lion’s Share XIV brewed just for the occasion. Guests can also sample a selection of anniversary beers from years past. The agenda also includes beer poking, a centuries-old technique that uses a heated brewing poker to caramelize sugars in the beer. Don’t miss vendors T-Rex Pickles and Married to Sugar who’ll bring specialty creations made using Lakewood beers. The party will run from 12-7 pm.

Monday, August 31

Mixology Mondays at The Parlor
The speakeasy-inspired lounge inside Sheraton Dallas will launch Mixology Mondays, an opportunity to learn the art of cocktail-making with a different signature drink featured each week. Participants will get to shake up classics like the Manhattan, Cosmopolitan, Sidecar, and Old Fashioned during the hour-long experience. Class is $30 (includes free parking) and begins at 5 pm.

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