Market Farming

["Robin Follette" <lists AT seasonseatingsfarm.com>]

> A question: do you see WIC customers spending any of their own money on
> produce? In other words, do they become regular market customers? Do you
> feel it's worth the bother? We've noticed they don't at either market 
> where
> we sell. We started taking WIC gladly at first.

Maine uses/used a check system.  The voucher looks just like a regular 
check. They're deposited the same way any other check is deposited.

We did have regular market customers as a result of FMNP. Some were young 
families learning about fresh food and others were former corporate 
employees who were down sized.  It's good to see the high and low end of 
income levels shopping side by side without anyone paying attention to who's 
paying cash, signing a personal check or signing a voucher.

Our biggest problems with FMNP was first, getting the WIC department to 
give the vouchers out in June instead of August, and getting people to use 
them weekly or monthly rather than waiting until September when our regular 
growing season was winding down.  When you've got a lot less to offer than 
you had two months ago and vouchers are showing up in your booth all at once 
it's a problem.

There were a couple of references to Ramen noodles.  Ramen noodles shouldn't 
be at farmers market or a farmstand.  Farmers Market Nutrition Program 
vouchers in Maine are for fruits, vegetables and herbs only.  There 
shouldn't be an opportunity to have to make a choice between produce and 
noodles.

Robin Follette
Seasons Eatings Farm
Talmadge, ME
www.seasonseatingsfarm.com