Representatives from Feeding America East Wisconsin, local farmers markets and community organizations urged Milwaukee County supervisors on Oct. 27 to include $150,000 in the 2026 budget to preserve the Milwaukee Market Match program, which matches FoodShare (SNAP) benefits at participating farmers markets.

“Right now, we're seeing a 30% increase in demand at food pantries,” said Matt Steinstra of Feeding America East Wisconsin, who said the increase included parents with school‑age children and seniors. He and other speakers described Market Match as helping families stretch FoodShare dollars to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, while keeping dollars local and supporting small farmers.

Market managers described the program's local economic impact. One market manager said $150,000 in Market Match funding would generate roughly $300,000 in local economic activity by keeping redeemed benefits at county markets. Several speakers, including the American Heart Association and FoodWIse (UW‑Madison Division of Extension), described the program as a proven nutrition incentive that increases fruit and vegetable consumption and supports public health.

Ending: Speakers asked supervisors to prioritize the relatively modest $150,000 appropriation in the county budget to maintain nutrition incentives, support local growers and reduce health disparities tied to diet-related disease.