In one of many mishaps, Bloomberg's "Green Cart" plan was kind of a bust last year, with people in "food deserts" not too keen on spending their money or food stamps on fresh fruit. Except that people did want fruit, they just didn't want to get it bruised and old from a cart. In 2010 low-income New Yorkers spent $500,000 in food stamps at greenmarkets from around the city, nearly double what they spent in 2009. Or maybe it's just the nouveau pauvre who aren't into the whole "living off ramen" thing.
Green Cart supporter City Council Speaker Christine Quinn told the Daily News, "This unequivocally proves that low-income people desperately want fresh fruits and vegetables." Access to groceries where fresh produce is sold is one of three main factors that contribute to obesity in the city, the others being access to parks and public transportation.
GrowNYC spokeswoman Amanda Gentile said greenmarket vendors are excited that more low-income families are shopping for produce. She said accepting food stamps is "a wonderful program for greenmarkets. Our mission is to not only support farmers and protect farmland in the region, it's also to get the best quality produce into the hands of as many New Yorkers as possible." Except those who don't qualify for food stamps; they'll just have to suck it up and pay for the "gouging shit fest" out of pocket.
