As average prices for fresh fruits and vegetables rise, Baltimore County officials said they want more low-income families to take advantage of a federal program offering $18 worth of free produce at area farmer?s markets.
County Executive Jim Smith on Monday promoted a federally funded nutritional voucher program that provides coupons to low-income mothers to use at markets at the Chartley Shopping Center farmers market in Reisterstown. In Baltimore County, the program is also offered to low-income seniors, but officials said not many residents are participating.
“That?s why the county executive wanted to bring more awareness to this program,” said Deborah D?Souza, who coordinates the program in the county. “It really helps low-income families, and we also want to support our local farmers.”
The vouchers are available at the county?s seven WIC centers and at senior centers.
The wholesale prices for many fruits and vegetables in Baltimore soared just in the past year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture?s marketing reports. The price for just under a bushel of California oranges rose as much as $6 compared to this time last year, for example, and a carton of Red Delicious apples rose about $14. The price for just more than a bushel of cucumbers is up by as much as $15 over last year.
Officials said spikes at the wholesale level inevitably get passed on to the consumer, but low-income families who must shop at smaller neighborhood grocers pay even more for produce.
And as produce prices escalate in grocery stores, advocates for the poor said they worry about clients? nutrition.
“Your whole diet focuses on things that you can buy in that one neighborhood store, which does not include produce,” said William Ewing, executive director of the Halethorpe-based Maryland Food Bank. “It?s a hot button issue for food banks everywhere.”
