Jazmin Witt with her mother Vicki Snow purchases micro greens from from Lee Johnson with Johnson Market using the SNAP coins from Slow Food Gulf Coast at the Palafox Market Saturday, July 24, 2015. (Michael Spooneybarger/ Studer Community Institute)

Eat your veggies.

Federal statistics show that more and more people who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits — commonly referred to as food stamps — are following that maternal advice by using their benefits to buy food directly from farmers and farmers markets.

SNAP redemptions at those types of outlets in fiscal 2014 totaled $18.8 million, a nearly six-fold increase since 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The number of SNAP-authorized farmers, roadside farm stands and farmers markets nationwide grew from 753 to more than 6,400 during that period. In Florida, SNAP redemptions at such venues grew from $65,120 to $1,005,839 in that time. The number of farmers markets and direct marketing farmers licensed to accept SNAP benefits in Florida increased from 6 to 125.

“All Americans, including those participating in our nutrition assistance programs, need to include more fresh fruits and vegetables in their diet. America’s farmers have an important role to play in addressing that need in communities across the country,” U.S. Agriculture Under Secretary Kevin Concannon said in a recent trip to a Pennsylvania farmers market  “Accepting SNAP benefits also increases the customer base for local producers, adding an extra economic boost to the community.”

One of those farmers markets is the Palafox Market, which welcomes patrons every Saturday morning in Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza in downtown Pensacola. This is the third year the Palafox Market has accepted SNAP benefits.

"Florida residents receive billions of dollars in SNAP benefits every year. Less than one tenth of one percent of those dollars goes to local farmers," said Lindsay Myers, chairwoman of Slow Food Gulf Coast, which coordinates the SNAP program for Palafox Market.

Slow Food Gulf Coast is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting “good, clean, fair and humane food” and championing the economic and policy needs of local farmers, food artisans and consumers.

"If we can move the needle on that even a little bit, you're talking about millions of dollars going to local farmers. I know that, through our program, there are thousands of dollars that are going to local farmers that otherwise would be going to Walmart or some large corporation that doesn't have any local economic ties."

The Palafox Market boasts about 110 vendors every Saturday, about 10 to 12 of whom are farmers. The rest offer art, live plants, collectibles and various other goods.

Myers said Slow Foods Gulf Coast went through the process of becoming a SNAP receiver for the market. Learn more here.

“People swipe their (SNAP benefits) card with us, and we give them tokens,” Myers said. “Most of the farmers who sell eligible items accept the tokens. We take on the transaction fee. That's minimal, but for a farmer, that makes a difference."

Daryl Reed, owner of Po Man Pickin's in Atmore, Ala., is glad the Palafox Market welcomes SNAP benefits.

"It's the first farmers market I have ever been to — and I've been to a lot of farmers markets — where they do that program," Reed said. "It's really good for the farmers."

As much as 40 percent of his business on any given Saturday comes from customers using SNAP benefits, he said. Po Man Pickin's grows pesticide-free vegetables on about 10 acres.

"It's really become more popular every year," he said. "I think they (SNAP recipients) are getting something they've never got before."

Thanks to a grant from Florida Organic Growers, Slow Food Gulf Coast is able to double up to $10 of SNAP benefits per week for folks looking for fresh produce. That grant started at $3,000 three years ago and now offers up to $5,000 year. The grant is not restricted to funding organic vegetables.

Nailah McKay, 2, waits as her mother Shekea Savage and grandmother Leretha Savage shop using the Florida Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program at the Palafox Market Saturday, July 24, 2015. (Michael Spooneybarger/ Studer Community Institute)

Myers said the SNAP program's presence at the Palafox Market helps the overall market as well as the SNAP recipients and the farmers.

"Probably about half the people we serve have never been to the market before," she said. “We know that our service is a direct draw for them. It brings more people to the market and brings more people downtown."