Extra British Columbians profit from new spherical of farmers’ market program funding

New funding for the BC Farmers’ Market Diet Coupon Program will assist enhance entry to wholesome, regionally grown meals for lower-income British Columbians and people who find themselves pregnant, whereas rising the variety of Elders and seniors collaborating in this system.

The Province offered the BC Affiliation of Farmers’ Markets (BCAFM) with roughly $12 million to help this system, which gives coupons to buy contemporary, wholesome, native meals at BC farmers’ markets.

“Our authorities continues to help the BC Farmers’ Market Diet Coupon Program, which is extensively supported throughout the province,” mentioned Adrian Dix, Minister of Well being. “This system encourages individuals to purchase nutritious, regionally grown meals, which helps to enhance the well being and well-being of British Columbians and builds a way of neighborhood.”

Of the funding, $3 million will likely be used to help roughly 1,750 extra seniors’ households becoming a member of this system. The BCAFM will work with present neighborhood companions to ask extra seniors in have to take part in addition to invite new organizations that serve seniors into this system.

Honey has additionally been added to the checklist of native meals out there for individuals with coupons this 12 months.

“This vital program helps extra British Columbians entry the contemporary, wholesome merchandise which can be grown and produced proper in their very own backyards and offered at our fantastic farmers’ markets,” mentioned Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Meals. “By supporting elevated participation in this system for many who want it most, we’re serving to extra individuals grow to be meals safe whereas additionally strengthening our provincial meals system and native meals economies.”

In 2022, the coupon program is predicted to learn greater than 8,824 households, reaching roughly 24,656 people. This is a rise of greater than seven occasions from when this system began in 2012. In 2019-20, the Province offered $2.25 million to this system, which benefited 6,684 households and roughly 19,029 people.

“This improbable program not solely helps individuals and households entry native, contemporary meals, but it surely additionally helps native farmers and producers in BC It is nice to see that this 12 months, seniors in Vancouver and all through the province may have much more alternatives to take part,” mentioned David Eby, MLA for Vancouver-Level Gray.

The BC Farmers’ Market Diet Coupon Program is a healthy-eating initiative that helps farmers’ markets and strengthens meals safety all through British Columbia. In 2022, the coupon program will run from June 4 to Dec. 18 at collaborating farmers’ markets in roughly 92 BC communities.

“Farmers’ markets help higher diet, in addition to native entrepreneurs and growers all through BC,” mentioned Wylie Bystedt, president, BCAFM. “The Farmers’ Market Diet Coupon program is an effective way to assist individuals get home-grown, world-class BC produce whereas growing a robust, sustainable agricultural sector that’s proud to serve our native communities. We’re grateful for the Ministry of Well being’s continued funding in constructing wholesome communities throughout the province. Via their funding, we see communities having success in wholesome initiatives and flourishing farmers’ markets.”

This system is run by neighborhood organizations provincewide. In 2022, eligible recipients will obtain $27 {dollars} of coupons per week for 16 weeks to assist them buy native meals, reminiscent of greens, fruits, nuts, eggs, dairy, herbs, vegetable and fruit vegetation, meat and fish. It is a $6 improve from the $21 {dollars} per week in 2021.

The BCAFM helps to supply shoppers with regionally grown and ready meals merchandise by way of a brand new on-line platform, with many farmers markets related nearly to serve their communities.

As well as, the Province is working to help native meals entry and availability, particularly in rural, distant and Indigenous communities. In 2021-22, the BC authorities offered $2.5 million to provincial well being authorities to strengthen neighborhood capability to enhance meals entry and availability by way of the Group Meals Motion Initiative. United Method BC additionally acquired $250,000 to develop and implement a brand new Meals Infrastructure Grant (FIG) program that has helped enhance entry to native meals, construct native meals techniques, and assist guarantee communities are much less affected by meals system disruptions attributable to local weather emergencies, reminiscent of wildfires and flooding.

Building of a climate-resilient cellar to retailer harvested meals for communities to entry in emergencies and buy of canning tools to preserved hunted and gathered meals in a distant Indigenous neighborhood are two examples of initiatives supported by the FIG program in 2021-22.

Fast Information:

  • The coupon program is on the market to all farmers’ markets in BC who’re members of the BC Affiliation of Farmers’ Markets and who meet sure standards.
  • Farmers’ markets can go to the affiliation’s web site for extra data, and functions for 2022 are nonetheless open.
  • All BCAFM markets at the moment working in BC have put protocols in place to assist make sure the well being and security of distributors, organizers and clients.
  • The BCAFM is a provincially registered, non-profit society that represents greater than 145 farmers’ markets all through the province.
  • At member markets, the main target is on promoting contemporary BC grown or ready meals and distributors should make, bake or develop the merchandise they promote.

Study Extra:

Households, seniors and pregnant people can entry the Farmers’ Market Diet Coupon program by contacting neighborhood accomplice companies: https://bcfarmersmarket.org/coupon-program/where-it-operates/

For extra details about the BC Farmers’ Market Diet Coupon Program or to find a farmers’ market in your neighborhood, go to: www.bcfarmersmarket.org

For extra details about the BC Farmers’ Market Path, go to: https://bcfarmersmarkettrail.com/

For extra details about how farmers and native meals corporations can entry provincial helps, go to: https://information.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020AGRI0023-001022

BC farmers’ markets on-line purchasing choices: https://information.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020AGRI0014-000569

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