ABSTRACT
In the Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits have been accepted at a selection of farmers’ markets since 2003 in order to improve accessibility of fresh, local produce. This chapter employs a mixed method approach, including qualitative interviews with SNAP participants and key informants, to evaluate the effectiveness of SNAP in the context of three farmers’ markets in the Twin Cities. While research in this field has examined various individual and community coping strategies used to combat food insecurity, little work focuses on the link between SNAP and farmers’ markets as one option for providing local, healthy, and affordable food to women and families, key for achieving SDGs # 2 on ending hunger and improving nutrition and # 5 on advancing gender equality and empowering women. The chapter employs a political ecology framework to analyze the history and implementation of food assistance, as well as embodiment geography to examine the individual-gendered experiences at farmers’ markets. Findings demonstrate the need to provide more comprehensive information to low-income shoppers about the restrictions of SNAP while also ensuring adequate accessibility to farmers’ markets. This research highlights the applicability of political ecology and embodiment geography to understanding relationships at farmers’ markets and improving food policy.
