Help offered to buy from farmers market

SANTA FE (AP) - Gov. Bill Richardson is providing $50,000 in federal economic stimulus money to help low-income New Mexicans buy food from farmers markets.

The money will help people who qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

A dollar-for-dollar matching program will be established. If a program participant buys $15 worth of produce at a farmers market, they'll get an additional $15 in benefits to spend at the market.

Currently, 13 farmers markets accept electronic benefit transfer cards from participants in the nutrition program. Included are those in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Farmington, Shiprock, Clovis, Espanola, Ribera and Silver City.

Part of the federal aid will be used to encourage nutrition program participants to shop at local farmers markets.