Why Arizona Democrats, Republicans Agree (Mostly) On Welfare Bill

      Posted On: May 11, 2018

Via: 91.5 KJZZ

It’s not often you hear bipartisan support at the state Capitol to increase spending on social welfare. But it’s happening. Supporters say the program will provide low-income Arizonans with more nutritional food and boost the bottom lines for local farmers.

Farmers Markets And Food Stamps

On a recent Saturday morning at the Uptown Farmers Market in Phoenix, people surrounded booths featuring locally grown produce.

Beneath a large white canopy set up by Blue Sky Organic Farms, customers sniffed strawberries, contemplated carrots, and gazed at greens — lots of greens.

“We have our mixed green salads,” said Bob Hedrick, Blue Sky’s market manager. “We have wild baby arugula, baby spinach, eight or 10 different heads of lettuce, chards, kales.”

Hedrick and his family operate three farmer’s markets in Phoenix and one in Gilbert. He said customers run the gamut.

“I see people that you can very well tell are spending the only money they have this week to buy groceries with us to the people who could go anywhere they want and buy anything they want and they still come to us,” he said.

Like the other 14 local farmers at the Uptown Market, Blue Sky Organic accepts SNAP. Commonly known as food stamps, SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

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