Featured Programs & Activities
Expanding Access to Farmers’ Markets    

Mt. Vernon Farmers’ Market and partners are offering Skagit Cooks!, a series of demonstrations by guest chefs, educational activities for children, and bilingual recipes and nutrition information. Access will also be expanded by offering a second mid-week market at Skagit Valley Hospital starting in July. Additionally, several programs to support low income shoppers are being added:  

• Basic Food Quest cards will be accepted. Shoppers can bring their Quest card to the market welcome booth, indicate how much they want to spend, and receive $1 carrot tokens which can be used at any vendor's stall that is selling eligible foods.
• Community Action and the Skagit County Health Department will be issuing Farmers Market Nutrition Program WIC vouchers at the market in an effort to increase the redemption rate.
• Outreach for the Basic Food and WIC programs will be offered.  

The Farmers’ Market is working closely with the Skagit County Community Action Agency to increase awareness of these new programs. Information is also being made available in brochures and has been featured by several local media sources.  

Partners

Mount Vernon Farmers Market, Skagit Valley Hospital/Mount Vernon Healthy Communities Project, Skagit County Community Action Agency, Children's Museum of Skagit County, Skagit Valley Food Co-op, Friends of Skagit County. Funding is provided by Projects for Public Spaces and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.  

Evaluation

Use of Quest cards will be monitored to assess whether accepting the cards increases access for low income shoppers.  

Featured: Spring 2006

Target Audience

Community residents

Scope

Mount Vernon