SURREY - Lower-income seniors and families in communities throughout B.C. will have increased access to locally grown produce and food products as the result of a $2-million, one-time grant to the BC Association of Farmers' Markets.

Funding supports the Farmers' Market Nutrition and Coupon Program, which provides coupons each week for participants to spend at their local farmers' market. Running for 14 weeks this year, the program is targeted at lower-income seniors and families, including pregnant women, who are participating in cooking and skill-building programs. These programs teach participants how to cook healthy, nutritious meals including using locally produced farm products.

Families will receive $15 worth of coupons each week, while seniors will receive $12 worth. Coupons are treated like cash and can be used to purchase a variety of B.C. food products including fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, nuts, dairy and fresh cut herbs.

The program matches BC Association of Farmers' Markets member farmers' markets with one or more community agencies that operate a cooking and skill-building program. The program will support up to 50 families and pregnant women and up to 10 seniors per community. The intent is to expand the program to support more individuals and B.C. communities each year.

The BC Association of Farmers' Markets is a provincially registered, non-profit association, which represents farmers' markets throughout the province. At member markets, the focus is on selling locally grown or processed farm-fresh foods and vendors must either make, bake or grow the products they sell.

The B.C. government continues to support programs that benefit the health of B.C. families and the Farmers' Market Nutrition and Coupon Program is part of the comprehensive Healthy Families BC public-health strategy. Healthy Families BC supports British Columbians in making healthier choices by providing a variety of easily accessible tools and information on healthy eating, physical activity and creating healthier communities.

The Farmers' Market Nutrition and Coupon Program also supports government's Families First Agenda, which is working to ensure that B.C. families continue to progress and thrive. The Families First Agenda focuses on supporting vulnerable families, making communities safer and helping ensure life is more affordable for B.C. families.

Quotes:

Minister of Health Michael de Jong -

"For many B.C. families, particularly those living in urban areas, farmers' markets provide a great opportunity to purchase fresh produce directly from growers as well as to sample a variety of healthy B.C.-produced foods that they might not ordinarily have access to.

"We are proud to support the BC Association of Farmers' Markets and the Farmers' Market Nutrition and Coupon Program, which is helping to improve the health of B.C. families by offering increased access to locally produced food for those in the most need."

Surrey-Tynehead MLA Dave S. Hayer -

"We are committed to ensuring tools and supports are in place across the province to provide healthy options for B.C. families. This coupon program complements these existing programs nicely by offering families access to local produce and other local food so that they can build on the skills learned."

BC Association of Farmers' Markets executive director Elizabeth Quinn -

"Farmers' markets operate in every corner of the province, offering residents access to a variety of farm-fresh foods, from fruits and vegetables to specialty cheeses. We are pleased that this funding will allow us to operate the coupon program, which provides more B.C. families with access to local produce."

Quick Facts:

• In year one, the Farmers' Market Nutrition and Coupon Program is expected to benefit approximately 800 families and pregnant women, 1,360 children and 150 seniors.
• More than 125 farmers' markets are operating throughout British Columbia.
• The BC Association of Farmers' Markets represents 101 markets, which include approximately 3,000 vendors.
• In April 2012, the government of B.C. provided a one-time $75,000 grant to the BC Association of Farmers' Markets to help implement their 2011-16 strategic plan, which aims to strengthen and promote farmers' markets in B.C. and to support B.C. farmers.

Learn More:

For more information on the Farmers' Market Nutrition and Coupon Program or to locate a farmers' markets in your community, visit: www.bcfarmersmarket.org

For more information on Healthy Families BC, visit: www.healthyfamiliesbc.ca

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contact:

Ryan Jabs, Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)

BACKGROUNDER

Farmers' markets participating in the coupon program

FRASER HEALTH

Abbotsford Farm and Country Market
Location: Inside and outside the United church at Montrose Ave. and George Ferguson Way, downtown Abbotsford
Hours: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cooking & Skill Building Program(s):

Abbotsford Community Services Best for Babies Program
Abbotsford Community Services Seniors program - Food for the Soul Community Kitchen

Coquitlam Farmers' Market
Location: In the parking lot of Dogwood Pavilion, 624 Poirier St., Coquitlam
Hours: Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cooking & Skill Building Program(s):

Healthy Babies Program
Glen Pine Pavilion Seniors

Royal City Farmers' Market
Location: Tipperary Park, 4th St. and Royal Ave., New Westminster
Hours: Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cooking & Skill Building Program(s):

Burnaby Family Life

Surrey Urban Farmers' Market
Location: North Surrey Recreation Centre Courtyard - 10275 - 135th St., Surrey
Hours: Wednesdays, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Cooking & Skill Building Program(s):

Oak Avenue Neighbourhood Hub
Umoja Operation Compassion Society
Family and Youth Partnership

INTERIOR HEALTH

Kelowna Farmers' and Crafters' Market
Location: Dilworth and Springfield Rd., Kelowna
Hours: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cooking & Skill Building Program(s):

The Bridge Youth and Family Services
Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society
Family and Youth Partnership

Nelson Farmers' Market
Location: 400 Block Baker St, Nelson
Hours: Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cooking & Skill Building Program(s):

Kootenay Kids Society's Farms to Families (The Family Place)

Revelstoke Farm and Craft Market
Location: Grizzly Plaza, Revelstoke
Hours: Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cooking & Skill Building Program(s):

Community Connections Food Bank

Vernon Farmers' Market
Location: Wesbild Centre parking lot - 3445 - 43rd Ave, Vernon
Hours: Mondays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Cooking & Skill Building Program(s):

First Nations Friendship Centre - Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program

NORTHERN HEALTH

Bulkley Valley Farmers' Market
Location: Central Park Building Parking Lot (corner of Highway 16 and Main St.), Smithers
Hours: Mondays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Cooking & Skill Building Program(s):

Northern Society for Domestic Peace - Smithers Pregnancy Outreach Program

Hazelton Community Market
Location: Hazelton Area Visitor Information Centre, Highways 16 and 62, New Hazelton
Hours: Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cooking & Skill Building Program(s):

Storytellers Foundation

Pleasant Valley Community Market
Location: Steelhead Park on Hwy 16 behind the Flyrod, Houston
Hours: Fridays, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cooking & Skill Building Program(s):

Houston Link to Learning

Prince George Farmers' Market
Location: 3rd and George St., Prince George
Hours: Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cooking & Skill Building Program(s):

Prince George Native Friendship Centre

Quesnel Farmers' Market
Location: Helen Dixon Centre Grounds, corner of Kinchant St. and Carson Ave., Quesnel
Hours: Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cooking & Skill Building Program(s):

Quesnel Child, Youth and Family Network

VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH

Ambleside Farmers' Market
Location: In the Parking Lot behind the Police Station on Bellevue between 13th and 14th in Ambleside, West Vancouver
Hours: Sundays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cooking & Skill Building Program(s):

North Shore Neighbourhood House, John Braithwaite Community Centre

Lonsdale Quay Farmers' Market
Location: On the East Plaza at Lonsdale Quay Market & Shops at 123 Carrie Cates Court at the foot of Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver
Hours: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cooking & Skill Building Program(s):

North Shore Neighbourhood House, John Braithwaite Community Centre

Sechelt Farmers' Market
Location: Cowrie and Shorncliffe, Sechelt
Hours: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Cooking & Skill Building Program(s):

Bellies and Babies: Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program
Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre
Big Folks, Little Folks Drop In at the Sechelt Health Unit

Squamish Farmers' Market
Location: Cleveland Ave. and Vancouver St., Squamish
Hours: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cooking & Skill Building Program(s):

Sea to Sky Community Services

Vancouver Farmers' Markets
Trout Lake: North parking lot of John Hendry Park between Lakewood & Templeton
Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

West End: 1100 block of Comox St.
Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Main Street: Station St. at Thornton Park near Main St. Skytrain Station
Wednesdays, 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Kitsilano: 10th Ave. at Larch St.
Sundays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Kerrisdale: East Boulevard between 37th & 41st Avenues
Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Cooking & Skill Building Program(s):

Hastings Community Centre
Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House
Collingwood Neighbourhood House - Renfrew-Collingwood Food Security Institute

VANCOUVER ISLAND HEALTH AUTHORITY

Comox Valley Farmers' Market
Location: Comox Bay Farm, West Island Hwy., Courtenay (Wednesdays); Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds, Headquarters Rd., Courtenay (Saturdays)
Hours: Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Cooking & Skill Building Program(s):

Comox Valley Family Services

Moss Street Community Market
Location: Sir James Douglas Elementary, 401 Moss St., Victoria
Hours: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cooking & Skill Building Program(s):

Victoria Native Friendship Centre

Port Alberni Farmers' Market Association
Location: Downtown Port Alberni at the Harbour Quay
Hours: Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Cooking & Skill Building Program(s):

Port Alberni Early Years Program - Lunch Club Program

Media Contact:

Ryan Jabs, Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)