As Thousands Lose SNAP Benefits, Midwest Vendors and Farmers Markets Brace for a Hit in Sales

Borderless / by Aydali Campa / June 30, 2026

Summers are the busiest time of year for Stephanie Rodriguez, who co-owns Los Rodriguez Farms with her family in Eau Claire, Michigan.

It is farmers market season, and that means the family often loads their trucks with produce as early as 3 a.m. to drive two hours to markets in the Chicagoland area.

They sell at 11 Chicagoland farmers markets, which generates nearly all of the farm’s revenue. About a third of their sales come from low-income customers who use federal food assistance benefits to buy food from Los Rodriguez Farms. Read More Here.