The Fort Leonard Wood farmers’ market announced Thursday that it now accepts food stamps.
The market is operated by the Pulaski County Sheltered Workshop (PCSW), a local non-profit that provides work for people with physical and mental disabilities.
Market manager Samantha Kramer said the new policy will provide fresh foods to people living on food-stamps in an area where produce is scarce.
“It allows (people on food stamps) to have access to fresh food when they otherwise wouldn’t have because there is a lack of it in the area,” she explained. “Beyond that, for them, they wouldn’t be able to afford it even if it was here.”
Local markets must go through an application process with the FDA and purchase special equipment in order to accept government welfare transactions (also known as EBT payments).
Kramer said the workshop received aid from the Missouri Farmers’ Market Coalition to pay for the special equipment.
She also said working at the market is therapeutic for many of the workers at PCSW.
“It allows them to highlight their abilities rather than their disabilities,” Kramer said. “They’re the hardest working people I’ve ever met. They like to work.”
The market has 11 vendors and offers a wide variety of produce to the 26,000 residents stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, as well as people in its surrounding areas.
It will begin accepting food stamp payments this week.