Yesterday, I drove by this masterpiece and had to snap a shot. The audacity that a fast food establishment has to promote using government assistance to supply unhealthy, if not slightly toxic ultra processed food to the community, as a helping hand is absurd. What the Central Valley doesn’t need is more access to EBT benefit use, they need more access to fresh and healthy foods for purchase with EBT benefits. This banner would have moved my heart in a completely different direction if this was a fresh fruit and veggie stand, however it is quite the contrary. Fresno has to start focusing on filling empty lots with small grocery stores and less corporate chain restaurants. We have a huge opportunity to build a curricular food system here locally and we are just missing the mark. Why again is this a societal norm, but an illegal fruit stand is not? Make it legal and promote the local economy already. We need to Incentivize small market owners to expand and train community members to start local food co-ops throughout the city and rural areas and stop nonsense like this from polluting our land. We are the bread basket of the world aren't we??
Gabriel Juarez
7mo
A lot of local farmers markets actually accept EBT or food stamps as well. I thought that was pretty cool and helps promote the local economy and healthy eating as well.
Another perspective. Not everyone has the financial means to go out to eat anywhere. Being able to use the EBT to perhaps treat yourself or family brings about a sense of normalcy. Imagine that just maybe it's a treat for someone to have a meal, although not the healthiest in a restaurant. Unfortunately there are many things we take for granted when we have financial means.
Francis Coats
6mo
As no.one else seems to care about this issue: so, people who depend on the social safety neylt should be prevented from buying the food they want? I suppose a close to vegetarian diet could be healthy and less expensive, assuming there were real grocery stores within walking distance ( a big assumption) but it still sounds a bit mater/pater-halistic, even Orwellian.
Roman Rain Tree
6mo
Crystal Vasquez, i think i understand what you are articulating and I agree. However, cash aid is available on EBT cards that is entirely separate from food stamps. Burger King promoting it is simply smart business. Cash Aid is just that, aid in the form of cash. Cash that can be spent on all things including alcohol, drugs, and yes, fast food. I agree more healthy fast food options would be beneficial, yet the economics of society point toward looking for an individual creating such an establishment, who emerges from the community, because government is not going to get into the fast food industry. That becomes problematic if it is not lucrative enough for a private citizen to invest in. Hence the limited options of the indigent individual and cause for Burger King to proudly advertise it now accepts EBT (Cash Aid). If we want healthier options for these recipients, and is needed, then the community (we the people) must organize and exercise that collective power. Particularly if existing policy is needing to be improved upon or replaced entirely. Until then, this will remain the reality for our community
LOU murray
6mo
I am the Co chair of the Manasota Food Action Council in Sarasota Florida. We are developing EBT farmers market in underserved communities ran by residents of public housing. They need to make some of those benefits for FARMERS MARKET ONLY. They need to give our EBT FARMERS MARKET the kind of support that they give Buger King and Walmart etc. Our EBT markest have not gotten any federal funds .
Yaz Widatalla
6mo
The fact that you can buy candy, desserts, sugar sweetened beverages and ALCOHOL MIXERS with EBT funds speaks for itself. Interesting how the USDA advertises the Summer EBT program as "Boosting Kids' Access to Nutritious Food in Summer" - while still allowing the these foods for purchase.
fidel garcia
6mo
Healthy Food Deserts filled in by Fast Food Forests Not a succession I want to see.
James Otto
6mo
It's unbelievable.
Seeds of Sovereignty
6moCorrect me if I am wrong but the “we accept EBT” is referring to the card, the EBT debit card, that contains both Food Stamps and Cash Aid. Food Stamps can only be used to purchase cold food items. However, the available Cash Aid, also accessible with the EBT Card, is no different than using cash. If I am correct, you can get cash back from it and the card is available for use at all state banks (ie Golden One), but the scarcity of such banks make it difficult for many recipients of Cash Aid to access their allocated funds. As such, it is a big deal in the universe of an individual reliant upon governmental assistance and probably the cause for the huge advertisement.