Our Approach
We are using farmers’ markets to improve access to healthy foods in communities by establishing markets in underserved areas and supporting the acceptance of federal food assistance benefits in existing markets. By providing our farmers’ markets with targeted training, technical assistance, capital support, and networking, we will increase the number of Kentuckians using farmers’ markets to purchase healthy food.
Why Farmers’ Markets?
Eating fruits and vegetables is an important part of maintaining a healthy weight and reducing the risk of many chronic diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and stroke. Overall, consumption of fruits and vegetables in Kentucky is low. However, many of our communities have no access to fresh, healthy affordable food or are served only by fast food restaurants and convenience stores.
Farmers’ markets have a positive impact on local economies, the community dynamic, customer health education, and healthy food consumption patterns. They allow customers to not only purchase locally produced, farm-fresh food, they provide an opportunity to connect with and know the actual folks putting food on your table: Kentucky’s farmers.
Highlights
Double Dollars Program
In many Kentucky communities, 25% of the population participates in federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants and Children (WIC), and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs (SFMNP). Unfortunately, only a handful of farmers’ markets accept these benefits.
Community Farm Alliance’s (CFA) Double Dollars Program will provide technical assistance and funding to markets enabling them to fully accept federal nutrition benefits and incentivize their customers to buy more fruits and vegetables at the market. The program will match the value of a customer’s federal nutrition benefits when used to purchase fresh, local produce. For more information on the Double Dollars Program, please visit CFA’s webpage.
Related Resources
Kentucky's Vision for Access to Healthy Foods [PDF]
Learn more about Kentucky's plan to improve access to safe, affordable, culturally acceptable and nutritious food that meets dietary needs for an active and healthy life.
Farmers' Markets in Kentucky [PDF]
An introduction to promoting access to healthy foods in Kentucky through the use of farmers' markets.
Community Farm Alliance
Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Kentucky Association of Food Banks
New Roots