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Coupon program offers fruits and vegetables

Low-income families offered coupons to redeem at farmers’ markets
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HELPING HAND:Whistler Farmers' Market offers help through the local Food Bank. Photo courtesy of Tourism Whistler by Mike Crane

The provincial government is once again funding a program that has produced win-win situations for farmers and lower-income families. The Farmers' Market Nutrition Coupon Program has been expanded and the province is committing $2 million to the program this year after spending $2 million to launch the initiative last year.

Coupons are made available to seniors, pregnant women and families with low incomes to be redeemed at a participating market. The markets in Pemberton, Squamish and West Vancouver at Ambleside are participating in the program and while the Whistler Farmers' Market isn't part of the provincial initiative - market manager Chris Quinlan said the market in Whistler has its own similar program.

"The Whistler Farmers' Market currently has a $3,000 budget for providing vouchers for the food bank," said Quinlan.

The provincial coupon program will run through to October giving access to locally grown produce and food products to support healthy eating.

The program offers $15 worth of coupons weekly to individuals and families taking the nutrition and skills building courses offered by community groups like Sea to Sky Community Services. The coupons are treated like cash and can be used to buy B.C. fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, nuts, dairy and herbs.

A total of 34 markets around the province are participating in the program.

New MLA Jordan Sturdy, who happens to be a farmer, supports the program.

"This program provides a great opportunity to help lower-income families and seniors access nutritious local produce, while supporting our regional food producers," said the West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA.

Whistler's market operates on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesday evenings between 3 and 7 p.m. The Pemberton market operates Wednesday evenings from 4 to 7 p.m. while the market in Squamish operates on Saturdays starting at 10 a.m. The market in Squamish wraps up each week at 3 p.m. The Ambleside market is located in the parking lot behind the police station on Bellevue in West Vancouver on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.