The Great State of Arizona, is now considering a bill, HB2469. Is it designed to truly help the unfortunate or is it yet another attempt to keep people under the thumb of the Government by limiting our ability to provide a living for our own families?
It's no great secret,
That I am not a fan of Big Government, Big Ag or Big Pharma. I have written Facebook posts and blogs about the City of Tucson Urban Agriculture Proposals and how their proposed ordinances would hinder our ability to raise animals and even food to provide for our families.
The State Bill in question HB2469 reads as follows:
AN ACT
AMENDING TITLE 46, CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 1, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, BY ADDING SECTION 46‑219; RELATING TO SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BENEFITS.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 46, chapter 2, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 46-219, to read:
46-219. Supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits; farmers' markets
A SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM RECIPIENT SHALL RECEIVE A FIFTY PERCENT DISCOUNT ON ANY ELIGIBLE ITEM PURCHASED AT A FARMERS' MARKET USING SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BENEFITS.
If this bill passes, then it would no longer be feasible to participate in this program, which I originally looked on as a way to increase sales to people that would greatly benefit by access to nutritious, fresh, non-gmo fruits and vegetables. Also, as you can see there is no means of reimbursement attached to this bill.
For those of us that produce food to sell at Farmers Markets, we know the cost of our time, the seed, the organic fertilizer, packaging, transporting, booth space fees when we price our produce. Yes, our prices are higher than what you can purchase thing for
your local supermarket, but ours is much more healthy, not laden with chemicals and pesticides and fresher because it has not been transported hundreds or thousands of miles sitting in a stock room until needed.
Maybe, we should be asking how they can make their produce so cheap??
The other side of this coin is that only small producers at Farmers Markets are being affected. This will not apply to purchases made at grocery or big box stores or even the local organic stores.
I truly wish that the Government would stop sticking it's nose into our business, literally.
The State Bill in question HB2469 reads as follows:
AN ACT
AMENDING TITLE 46, CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 1, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, BY ADDING SECTION 46‑219; RELATING TO SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BENEFITS.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 46, chapter 2, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 46-219, to read:
46-219. Supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits; farmers' markets
A SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM RECIPIENT SHALL RECEIVE A FIFTY PERCENT DISCOUNT ON ANY ELIGIBLE ITEM PURCHASED AT A FARMERS' MARKET USING SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BENEFITS.
If this bill passes, then it would no longer be feasible to participate in this program, which I originally looked on as a way to increase sales to people that would greatly benefit by access to nutritious, fresh, non-gmo fruits and vegetables. Also, as you can see there is no means of reimbursement attached to this bill.
For those of us that produce food to sell at Farmers Markets, we know the cost of our time, the seed, the organic fertilizer, packaging, transporting, booth space fees when we price our produce. Yes, our prices are higher than what you can purchase thing for
your local supermarket, but ours is much more healthy, not laden with chemicals and pesticides and fresher because it has not been transported hundreds or thousands of miles sitting in a stock room until needed.
Maybe, we should be asking how they can make their produce so cheap??
The other side of this coin is that only small producers at Farmers Markets are being affected. This will not apply to purchases made at grocery or big box stores or even the local organic stores.
I truly wish that the Government would stop sticking it's nose into our business, literally.
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