Tucson group trying to bring community agriculture to SNAP recipients

[ad_1]

TUCSON (KVOA) – Tucsonans who receive food services may soon have more access to locally grown produce.

Sourcing fresh, local produce can often be more expensive than not for those on food aid, the Tucson Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) said it hopes to fill that void.

Tucson CSA is a membership-based program where you prepay for the local farmer’s season and then collect your produce weekly for six or twelve weeks. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients were able to use their benefits on items in their store such as milk, eggs, cheese, and bread, but not on products.

Tucson CSA said it was in the process of making its product range eligible as well. Once approved, Tucson CSA plans to partner with Double Up Food Bucks Arizona, a program that will allow you to spend $ 1 on your benefits and spend $ 1 on Arizona products.

“It just makes it a lot more accessible to people,” said Daniela Diamente, owner of Tucson CSA. “To be able to afford locally healthy items, locally produced healthy items.”

“It keeps money in Arizona,” Diamente said. “We are thinking about supporting local producers and manufacturers of products that help the health and well-being of the residents here.”

Tucson CSA said this is currently an application and hopes the product range will be SNAP-enabled by the end of the year.

[ad_2]