As Thursday’s article in The Crimson White, titled “Affording food problem for state,” pointed out, Alabama has serious problems in the area of food security; however, it’s also worthwhile to point out that improving access to local, nutritious food presents a great economic opportunity for Alabama.
While the social justice aspects are important, at its core, improving food security and access using the local food system represents an economic proposition that Alabamians are missing out on.
In a 2009 study done by Extension Economists at Mississippi State University, 26 of Mississippi’s farmers markets created $1.6 million in sales, 16 full- and part-time jobs and an additional $16,080 in local and state tax revenues.
According to the Alabama Farmers Market Authority, Alabama had 133 farmers markets in 2011, with seven more in the works for 2012. If supporters of local food in Mississippi created 16 jobs through supporting only 26 farmers markets, how many jobs could Alabamians create with five times that many markets if we chose to buy local? There’s also budding evidence that buying local can be up to 25 percent cheaper.
Another aspect to emphasize is the role current government assistance programs, such as SNAP (formerly called Food Stamps), play in improving access to local food. In 2011, the Homegrown Alabama market became the first farmers market in Alabama to adopt a centralized system for accepting SNAP, along with a $1,500 grant from Canterbury Episcopal Chapel for an incentive program. The results? $4,834 in additional sales for Homegrown’s vendors, with 58 percent spent on fresh fruits and vegetables.
Canterbury’s investment of $1,500 to improve access to local food to SNAP recipients resulted in a 222 percent rate of return for Homegrown’s vendors. Homegrown’s customers also used SNAP benefits on products, such as seeds and herbs, that they could use to create gardens, a sustainable way of improving their food security and leveraging SNAP as a “hand up.”
For the 2013 fiscal year, funding for the Alabama Farmers Market Authority has been eliminated in Governor Bentley’s proposed budget. So, what can we do? Go to your local farmers markets often, encourage your farmers market managers to accept SNAP/EBT, call your state representative and senator and encourage them to preserve the Alabama Farmers Market Authority, and encourage your church or faith community to get involved in improving food security for all.
It is always important to remember that we can improve food security, create jobs, improve health and love our neighbors all at the same time.
Will Thomas graduated from the University of Alabama in 2010 and is currently pursuing an MS in Agricultural Economics from Auburn University. David M. Ford is director of the Alabama REAL and an instructor of management at the University of Alabama.
