Food assistance benefits were increased by 13.6 percent in April as part of the Obama administration’s stimulus package and Diane Conners of the Great Lakes Bulletin News Service reports that farmers who sell at the Eastern Market in Detroit are seeing significantly increased sales as food aid recipients spend more money on fresh produce.

Connors reports 1.4 million people in Michigan receive food aid and 30 of Michigan’s 200 farmers markets now accept the debit-style cards they use to make purchases.

According to Connors the Michigan Farmers Market Association is working to expand availability of the machines used to process purchases made with food aid cards which are also known as “Bridge” cards. She quotes a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture official as saying that every $5 of food assistance money spent generates $9.20 in local economic activity.