Detroit Urban Farmers Step up To Provide Fresh Produce During SNAP Benefit Pause

Urban growers in Detroit have banded together to distribute fresh vegetables and fruits to people hit by the halt in federal SNAP assistance during the government shutdown. Local farming groups organized the effort to combat rising worries about access to meals in the metro region.

"We're bringing our food together to make it available to those in need," said Travis Peters of Green Boots Veterans Community Urban Farm and Marketplace according to ClickOnDetroit. The operation sits near where Southfield Freeway meets I-96.

"And it's not just any food. We put our hearts and souls into it. It's fresh, high-quality, organic practices of growing foods. The old-fashioned way," Travis Peters said.

The growers are handing out several kinds of eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, and mixed greens.

Amanda Brezzell, Co-Founder of Fennigan's Farm and a food policy specialist, said requests outpaced what they could give even before the shutdown.

Things might worsen as the shutdown drags on. "We're already dealing with a lot of people who don't have. So, I anticipate it's going to get a lot worse," Brezzell said.

The temporary stop in SNAP assistance stems from the wider federal government shutdown. The current pause has widened existing holes in access for those who count on federal help programs.

Terry Peters stressed what the farming groups will do. "We've got your back. Right here. This is the moment of truth," he said. "We wanted to seize it, just offer some aid to our community."

The work shows how neighborhood groups are trying to fill the void while federal assistance remains frozen. Green Boots Veterans Community Urban Farm and Marketplace is located at 13500 Southfield Freeway, Detroit, MI 48223.