District Dish: Forsyth Farmers’ Market tackles food insecurity

Written by Emma Pilger. Photo by Emma Pilger.

Food insecurity– the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable and nutritious food– is a growing issue in the United States, particularly in areas that experience wide ranges of income. Savannah, Georgia, is one of many cities that has a high rate of food insecurity. According to a survey conducted by Healthy Savannah, one in eight Savannah locals were food insecure in 2019, and one in six children were food insecure in 2020-2021. But, with the help of the Forsyth Farmers’ Market, that number is dwindling. Located in Forsyth Park every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Forsyth Farmers’ Market is the champion of change in many Savannah communities through the programs they offer.

Low-income individuals and families can enroll in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) which provides them with an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card that can be used at select grocery stores and markets. However, SNAP has its own issues, including not accounting for varying food prices according to geographical areas. On top of this, people who live in food deserts– urban areas in which it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food– struggle to get to grocery stores. With the average cost of groceries in Savannah rising this past year, people using SNAP/EBT benefits are struggling to buy the produce that they need.

SNAP benefits go twice as far at Forsyth Farmers’ Market than at a grocery store.

Forsyth Farmers’ Market has jumped into action to aid those struggling to get by on SNAP benefits. Every Saturday, people can swipe their EBT cards for their desired amount and that amount will be matched, doubling the number of tokens that people can spend on the vendors at the market.

“We work with Wholesome Wave Georgia, and they double our tokens for us so we can give them to people on SNAP,” said Meghan Eberly, the Forsyth Farmers’ Market manager and Director of Communications. “The organization’s additional tokens can be used to buy any fruit, vegetable, raw nuts, live plants and rice.” To put it simply, SNAP benefits go twice as far at Forsyth Farmers’ Market than at a grocery store. 

Providing twice the amount of food people can get on SNAP is a great way to help the community, but low-income individuals aren’t the only people who benefit. Local farmers and artisans are also supported through the program, investing in the future of their farms and livelihoods. 

“Rather than the dollars that a customer might spend at a grocery store or a corner convenience store, they’re spending that money in the local economy, supporting local farmers, and keeping agriculture supported in the region,” said Eberly. “Every week, one-quarter of our sales are SNAP sales, which is great. We’re always working to promote our SNAP and EBT programming.”

Local farmer and salesman Joe King, “Farmer Joe,” works the Clark and Sons Organic stand every Saturday at the market. His produce stand helps people on SNAP buy plenty of fresh food every week, a fact that he is proud of. “I have a lot of people that come and support me, whether they’re poor or wealthy,” he said.

Within any food desert, it is more likely that there is a fast food restaurant or liquor store within a one-mile radius than a grocery store or market with fresh food.

Although this program is an excellent way for people to fulfill their needs for fresh, healthy food, the Forsyth Farmers’ Market, located at Forsyth Park in Downtown Savannah, isn’t accessible to the entire city. Savannah’s food deserts are expanding while grocery stores are closing and fast-food chains are growing. Within any food desert, it is more likely that there is a fast food restaurant or liquor store within a one-mile radius than a grocery store or market with fresh food. If people do not have a mode of transportation to get to a grocery store or market, they experience the challenging repercussions of food deserts.

To combat this issue, the Forsyth Farmers’ Market has created the Farm Truck 912. “It’s a way to bring fresh fruit and vegetables to people who may not have access to transportation,” Eberly said. The truck, filled with locally grown produce, travels to various parts of Savannah every week to ensure that food-insecure neighborhoods have access to healthy, fresh food. All forms of payment are accepted, including SNAP and EBT, and the truck doubles SNAP dollars like the Farmers’ Market.

Communities across Savannah have greatly benefitted from Farm Truck 912 since its opening in early 2022. “We are trying to expand our Farm Truck stops,” said Eberly. “We’re working up to thirty stops per week, and right now we have about seven or eight.” The future is bright for Farm Truck 912 to continue to help those in need of fresh food.

Forsyth Famers’ Market also works hard to make sure that everyone eligible for SNAP is enrolled as soon as possible to take advantage of the benefits.

While Farm Truck 912 supports access to healthy food in Savannah, its sister program, 912 Food Pharmacy, educates people on the nutritious foods they need for their health. “We work with several clinics and community health centers in Savannah,” Eberly explained. “Doctors prescribe produce to their patients and those people get a set amount of money each month that they can use to shop at the market.” To be a part of 912 Food Pharmacy, people must be SNAP eligible, meaning they can spend both their Pharmacy dollars and SNAP dollars at the market. 

Forsyth Famers’ Market also works hard to make sure that everyone eligible for SNAP is enrolled as soon as possible to take advantage of the benefits. Tasha Wei, the market’s nutrition educator, focuses on this mission. She seeks to ensure that everyone knows and understands SNAP and EBT so that people are proactive about seeking access to fresh food. 

With all the programs that the Forsyth Farmers’ Market offers, it’s clear that the market is making a difference in Savannah communities facing food insecurity. Not only are SNAP customers benefiting from these programs, but local farmers are, too. “We work hard to help people, and it pays off,” said Eberly. “We’re very proud of the work we do.”