How food access, community health and farmers markets are interwoven.
Farmers Markets have been an access point for fresh farm foods and artisan goods for over five thousand years. Pike Place Market is the oldest in Washington, having started in 1907. The Sequim and Port Angeles Farmers Markets have both been open for more than 20 years.
WSU Clallam Extension has been providing support to help our local markets all the while. WSU Extension serves as a science-based resource for community health, agricultural practices, and economic development. Sharing many overlapping goals, farmers markets and WSU extension offices have long worked collaboratively. Let’s spotlight the Community Health side of farmers markets!
5 Ways Farmers Markets Champion Community Health
- Unlike supermarkets, with their beguiling aisles of soda, candy and potato chips, farmers markets put fresh fruits and vegetables front and center.
- At local farmers markets, most of the produce is being sold at peak nutritiousness having been harvested within 24-48 hours. By contrast, some grocery store produce is stored for weeks before it reaches the customer’s plate.
- Farmers markets are not only shopping outlets, they are weekly community-building gatherings that celebrate growers, artisans and regional abundance.
- All farmers markets on the Olympic Peninsula accept SNAP EBT, which makes fresh and nutritious food more accessible to low-income families.
- Farmers Markets increase prosperity for farmers by serving as a consistent outlet for direct sales, which benefits the local economy and contributes to community food security.
Farmers Markets work hard to make fresh and healthy food accessible for families. Beginning with the 2014 Farm Bill, Nutrition Incentive Programs like Market Match have increased SNAP shopper purchasing power for nutritious foods while benefiting local farmers with increased sales.
WSU is behind the scenes doing the systems and policy work that keep the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Low-Income Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) functioning.
WSU Clallam Extension played a pivotal part in establishing the now thriving Sequim Farmers and Artisans Market Community Nutrition Program. It was their informative presentation on the needs of the Sequim community that was able to demonstrate to the market board the value of investing in the program.
In 2021, Sequim Farmers & Artisans Market saw a near 200% participation increase across their Community Nutrition Programs. In 2021, the Sequim Market vendors earned $11,840 in combined SNAP and SNAP Match sales and $1,923 in FMNP incentive sales.
At the Port Angeles Farmers Market in 2021, vendors brought in $15,041 in total EBT and $10,948 in SNAP Market Match incentive dollars. For PA Farmers Market, we saw a 114% increase in EBT/SNAP from 2020 to 2021.
For the 2022 Sequim Market Season, SNAP shoppers will receive a full dollar-for-dollar match for every SNAP EBT transaction they complete at the market. WIC and Senior FMNP recipients who present a full check booklet at the Market Information Booth will receive an additional $40 in market tokens which may be used to purchase fruit and vegetables. Port Angeles Market will share information on their matching fund program soon.
Community Survey Coming Soon!!
WSU Clallam Extension is partnering with Farmers Markets across Clallam and Jefferson Counties to learn how farmers markets can better serve our community. So our programs continue to improve, the WSU Clallam Extension Community Health team will be launching a survey in mid-June. Stay tuned!
When and Where:
Sequim Farmers & Artisans Market
Saturdays, May 14th thru October 29th – 9am – 2pm
City Hall Plaza in Sequim
Port Angeles Farmers Market
Open Year Round rain or shine – Saturdays 10am-2pm
NEW! Wednesdays June 29th – August 31st from 4pm – 7pm
Gateway Transit Center in Downtown Port Angeles
www.portangelesfarmersmarket.com
Whether you enjoy farm fresh food, soaking up the sunshine with a fresh cup of locally roasted coffee and a baked good, listening to live music, or chatting with your neighbors, the farmers market is the place to be!
If you are traveling, don’t forget to pull up the Eat Local First Food and Farm Finder to search for Farmers Markets along the way!