Alabama business owners brace for impact over SNAP program suspension

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WHNT) — SNAP recipients in Alabama are bracing for impact as benefits are set to end on Nov. 1 due to the government shutdown. Some Alabama business owners are also preparing for how businesses could be affected.

“But, we always put everything in God’s hands cause He knows what we need,” said Flora Brown, manager of Fairview Farmer’s Market.

The Fairview Farmers Market has been a staple in Montgomery for 21 years. Customers can buy freshly cut produce, flowers and more.

Brown said SNAP recipients count for about sixty percent of her customers. And with those dollars running out, she said her market will take a hit.

“Farmers are the ones that mostly will be hurt,” she said. “Because people will not be able to use their food stamp card to buy their produce that they have spent all their money and time out there growing.”

“We hope we get through this fairly quickly,” said Rick Pate, commissioner of Agriculture and Industries.

Commissioner Pate said farmers are also dealing with fewer staff at USDA offices who process payments. But he explained food safety programs are still going.

“Obviously, some of those local farmers will be impacted if people don’t have the resources to pay for the stuff they want at farmers’ markets,” he said.

At the end of the day, Brown said prayer is the answer to everything.

“I’m just praying that they work out something that’s gonna be beneficial to everybody- the young kids, and the older folks,” said Brown. “That’s my thought on it.”

In a statement, the Alabama Grocers Association urges Alabama’s congressional delegation to take immediate, bipartisan action to end the ongoing government shutdown. According to AGA data, they said the loss of SNAP benefits would result in a $2.55 billion economic loss, placing rural grocery stores at risk of closure.