Bridge Cards will soon be accepted at the Saturday Farmers’ Market

(Updated information from Market Manager Stephanie Doll,”The Chelsea Farmers Market will accept Bridge Cards very soon, but not this weekend 8/4. We are awaiting delivery of one final item to be operational.”)

The Saturday Chelsea Farmers Market is now accepting will soon be accepting Bridge Cards from residents who rely on these benefits to bring healthy food home to their families.

“Our local farm vendors raise fresh and healthy food,” said Stephanie Doll, market manager in a press release. “We’re pleased to be part of a program that improves access to this food for all of our area’s residents.”

According to Kathy Kennedy, farmers’ market intern, here’s how it works.

Bridge Card holders need to visit the Bridge Card tent at the Saturday Chelsea Farmers Market.  They determine how much they’ like to spend, present their card and receive tokens equal to that amount.

Shoppers then use their tokens to purchase eligible food products at participating vendors, she said.

Vendors cannot give change, but will work with shoppers to make sure they get their money’s worth.  Tokens don’t expire, so if people don’t use them all that day, they can use them on their next market visit.

It’s that simple.

The Michigan Farmers Markets Food Assistance Partnership (MIFMA) is working to help low-income Michigan consumers get to know their local farmers, according to the press release.

MIFMA received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers Market Promotion Program aimed at supporting the use of Bridge Cards at Michigan farmers markets.

In 2012, 104 of the state’s approximately 300 farmers markets are accepting Bridge Cards. One goal of the program is to have 50 percent of the state’s farmers markets accepting them by the end of 2013.

In Chelsea, both farmers’ markets — the Bushel Basket Market, held on Wednesdays at the Chelsea Fairgrounds, and the Saturday market — are accepting them.

The Saturday market is held in the library parking lot on Park Street from 8 a.m.-noon, May through October.

For more information about Bridge Card eligibility, contact Kennedy at 734-358-9390.

For more information about the Chelsea Farmers Market and its food vendors, click here.