Thanks to OSU Extension, Food Share of Lincoln County, the Lincoln
County Small Farmers' Association, Buy Local Lincoln County and to all
the people who partnered and volunteered with Ten Rivers Food Web on the
farmers' market tour for Latinos this past Saturday.
Growing Local Latino Health at the Farmers’ Market
Newport, OR – July 2, 2013 – Two dozen Latino men, women,
and children strolled through the Newport Farmers’ Market on Saturday, gleaning
bits of local food knowledge from farmers and other food producers. Volunteers from
Food Share of Lincoln County, OSU Extension, Ten Rivers Food Web, and the
community took the groups on a “tour” of the market. The groups discussed the
challenges the Latino tour participants face in feeding themselves and their
families, and why some of them do not ordinarily feel they can shop at the
market.
The
volunteer tour facilitators also demonstrated strategies to better access
nutritious, local food on a small budget. These include identifying foods at
the peak of their season, using SNAP benefits (formerly known as Food Stamps) and
WIC vouchers at the market, and taking advantage of the That’s My Farmer SNAP
program, which provides SNAP participants with extra money to spend at the
market. Some vendors also reduce their prices at the end of the market,
although late shoppers must contend with a smaller selection.
“Food
Share also provided each low-income participant with a $10 voucher (with
funding from Samaritan Health Services Foundation) to spend on fruits,
vegetables and other healthy foods they learned about on the tour,” said Dan
Blaustein-Rejto, an AmeriCorps VISTA with Ten Rivers Food Web. “Most people
have a perception that all local food is too expensive for them. But when we
give them an incentive to shop around the market, many people discover that some
in-season foods are actually less expensive, healthier, and fresher than what they
see elsewhere.”
Children
who could not stomach the summer education, instead stopped by different
booths, asking vendors about their products in order to complete a treasure
hunt developed specifically for the event. They learned where different farms
are located, which foods are sold at the market, and which are not–pizza, for
example.
Nearly
all the participants said “Si”, yes – they would eat more fruits, vegetables,
whole grains and in-season foods because of the tour. However, there are still significant
barriers for low-income, Latino and other groups who want to eat local, healthy
food and reduce their risk for diet-related illnesses. Less than one-quarter of
Lincoln county adults consume the recommended 5 servings of fruits and
vegetables daily. Most of the tour participants said that reducing the price of
local food, increasing the diversity of local foods, and offering nutrition or
cooking classes would all help them eat more local foods, fruits and vegetables.
Many
others in the area, particularly those without the time to come to the tour,
struggle with even greater food needs. In
Lincoln County, nearly one in six people are food-insecure, meaning they do not
always know where they will find their next meal. 10,000 people rely on SNAP
benefits each month to feed themselves and their families. 33% of children are
part of the SNAP program, far outpacing the national average.
Several
groups that work on nutrition, local food access, and food insecurity collaborated
on the tour. It was coordinated as part of Ten Rivers Food Web’s That’s My Farmer Tours program and generously
sponsored by the Lincoln County Smaller Farmers’ Association in partnership
with Food Share of Lincoln County and OSU Extension. The
The
Newport Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays from 9am to 1pm until October 26. It
is located outside of Newport City Hall off of Hwy 101, one block South of Hwy
20.
A partner of Food Share of Lincoln County, Calvary Baptist in Newport, is adding a weekly free produce distribution starting Friday, July 26th, open to all in need.
A partner of Food Share of Lincoln County, Calvary Baptist in Newport, is adding a weekly free produce distribution starting Friday, July 26th, open to all in need.
Contact:
Dan
Blaustein-Rejto, Ten Rivers Food Web
www.tenriversfoodweb.org
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