BALTIMORE – Today, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) announced that, after advocacy from his Congressional Office, the Grocery Stall at Hollins Market in Baltimore will now be accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits as a form of payment from patrons.
“While my Congressional Office successfully handles thousands of constituent cases per year, this one in particular is deserving of being uplifted because it is far-reaching and will promote healthy living and hearty food choices for Hollins neighborhood residents and visitors," said Congressman Kweisi Mfume.
“Hollins Market is the only walkable small-format grocery store in the neighborhood, and we have intentionally stocked it with fresh, affordable foods to address the local food access gap. Unfortunately, due to delays in the process for securing authorization from FNS [U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service], our SNAP-eligible neighbors have not been able to shop,” saidLesly Scott, Food Equity Manager for Baltimore Public Markets Corporation.
“All Baltimoreans deserve access to healthy and fresh food, and we are grateful that Congressman Mfume worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to champion Baltimore’s access to this important federal support. Thanks to him, Hollins Market residents, and west Baltimore more broadly, can now buy fresh produce and healthy grocery staples,” said Jesse Salazar, Board Chair for Baltimore Public Markets Corporation.
Extended Timeline:
- Hollins Market, a historic public market in Southwest Baltimore, was reopened in mid-September of 2024 and is operated by the Baltimore Public Markets Corporation (BPMC) on behalf of Baltimore City.
- The BPMC applied to the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) at the United States Department of Agriculture for SNAP authorization at Hollins Market in mid-August 2024. FNS responded to their application on September 10, requesting additional documentation before they could move the application forward.
- After providing additional documentation on October 9, the BPMC received notice on October 23 that FNS would begin reviewing the application.
- Having not gotten any information since October, BPMC reached out on December 10, 2024, to the Office of Congressman Kweisi Mfume for assistance inquiring on the status of their application.
- On December 12, 2024, the Office of Congressman Kweisi Mfume submitted a congressional inquiry to the Food and Nutrition Service at the United States Department of Agriculture regarding the status of the Hollins Grocery, LLC application for SNAP authorization.
- In this inquiry, it was emphasized to FNS that because Hollins Grocery, LLC is housed in Hollins Market, which is located in a high food insecurity area, it would be most beneficial for SNAP eligible residents to have access to the stall filled with fresh fruits and vegetables at an affordable cost.
- In addition, it was highlighted that the ability to utilize SNAP benefits at the stall would promote healthy living by providing healthy and hearty food choices.
- In this inquiry, it was emphasized to FNS that because Hollins Grocery, LLC is housed in Hollins Market, which is located in a high food insecurity area, it would be most beneficial for SNAP eligible residents to have access to the stall filled with fresh fruits and vegetables at an affordable cost.
- Following this lift and support from Congressman Mfume, the Member's Congressional Office was notified on January 17, 2025, that Hollins Market had been authorized to accept SNAP benefits.
Due to the delay in SNAP authorization, Hollins Grocery was wasting a sizable amount of SNAP-authorized fresh produce and other perishable items (such as milk, cheese, and eggs) weekly, while also turning away shoppers who were eagerly waiting to use their SNAP benefits at the store.
Now, with SNAP authorization, Hollins Grocery can attract new customers to the renovated market and increase the viability of this treasured space in Southwest Baltimore.
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