Create SNAP friendly Farmers Markets in Indiantown

Residents of Indiantown need affordable options for fresh produce in a community that has been identified as a food desert by the USDA Economic Research Service. This proposal advocates for the Martin County Board of Commissioners to establish a farmers market that accepts SNAP benefits through Electronic Benefit Transfer terminals to ensure low-income families have access to healthy food. Indiantown, a rural village of approximately 7,000 residents in western Martin County, currently has no full-service grocery store within its boundaries, forcing residents to travel 15 to 20 miles to the nearest supermarket in Stuart or Palm City. The American Heart Association, which is sponsoring the proposal, estimates that over 40 percent of Indiantown households participate in SNAP and would benefit directly from a market that accepts benefits. The proposed market would operate weekly on Saturday mornings at the Indiantown Civic Center, with space for 20 to 30 vendor stalls featuring locally grown fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural products from the surrounding farming region. A key component of the proposal is a double-value incentive program, similar to Florida’s Fresh Access Bucks, where SNAP dollars spent at the market would be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $20 per visit to increase purchasing power. The Martin County Health Department has endorsed the concept, citing data showing that Indiantown residents have higher rates of diet-related conditions including diabetes and hypertension compared to the county average. Startup costs are estimated at $85,000 for EBT equipment, vendor infrastructure, signage, and first-year marketing, with the American Heart Association committing to cover $50,000 through its Voices for Healthy Kids initiative. The proposal asks the county to provide the remaining funding and waive facility rental fees for the first two years to allow the market to become self-sustaining. Local growers in the Treasure Coast region have expressed interest in participating, as the market would provide a new direct-to-consumer sales channel within a community that is predominantly agricultural workers and their families.