With EBT, more customers for farmers markets

In what is hoped will become the norm and not the exception, more farmers markets are accepting Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, formerly known as the food stamp program.

It seems a natural: Provide better access to nutritious, fresh foods and products to promote healthier eating among all socio-economic levels; theoretically, less of those high-sugar and processed foods. Local farmers and vendors, meanwhile, get a bigger consumer pool.

But easier said than done, apparently. Most vendors aren’t equipped with EBT card readers so enrollees have to fill out forms — mostly at the city-operated open markets that must accept EBT/SNAP payments — cutting into the convenience and ease of transactions.

Over the past couple months, the nonprofit Kokua Kalihi Valley has enabled EBT use at the Kalihi Valley farmers market via a token system and grant money. Great idea. Among those now joining the EBT trend is the Wahiawa Farmers Market, thanks to sponsors, with other venues expected to follow by year’s end.

A little sunlight at development authority

Three cheers for public pressure producing public transparency. The Hawaii Community Development Authority has ended its earlier hedging and released the names of companies bidding to build a proposed 650-foot residential tower in Kakaako. They are Forest City Enterprises Inc. and Lend Lease, both companies with broad experience, including records of developing military housing and other projects here.

The governor and other officials have said going tall will better enable a developer to deliver affordable units because of the economy of scale. That makes for a good sound bite, but we won’t have an accurate measure of the benefit to the Honolulu housing market until the final plans are issued. Let’s hope HCDA continues to be as transparent about the details.