Daajing Giids Village council is supporting a provincial program that helps residents purchase fresh local food at farmers’ markets.
At its March 2 meeting, council voted to send a letter to BC Health Minister Josie Osborne supporting continued and expanded funding for the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program, a provincial initiative that provides food coupons to lower income households.
The program allows participants to purchase fresh food directly from vendors at participating farmers’ markets across British Columbia.
Mayor Lisa Pineault noted during the meeting that the program is especially useful for residents because the coupons are not limited to a single location.
“These coupons can be used at any participating farmers’ market in B.C.,” Pineault said. “It’s a really great program and it’s something people in our community use.”
The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program is administered through the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets in partnership with community organizations across the province.
Coupons are distributed through local community partners to eligible participants, including lower income families, seniors and pregnant people.
Households enrolled in the program may receive up to $27 per week in coupons for as long as 16 weeks during the farmers’ market season, depending on the local program guidelines and the length of the market season.
The coupons can be used to purchase a wide range of foods from market vendors, including vegetables, fruit, eggs, dairy, herbs, honey, nuts, meat, fish, and plants for vegetables or fruit.
Supporters of the program say it improves food access while also supporting small scale farmers and strengthening local food systems.
The initiative began as a pilot project in 2007 and has expanded significantly over the past decade. Today the program operates in more than 95 communities across British Columbia and serves over 30,000 people each year from more than 12,000 households.
Demand for the coupons continues to exceed available funding in many communities.
Advocates say letters of support from local governments help demonstrate the program’s value as the province considers future funding.
Council’s motion to send the letter passed without opposition.
