First Market Bucks was a big success | Letter

Published 4:40 pm Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Thanks to coordinated efforts of the Orcas Farmers’ Market, the Orcas Island Community Foundation, Orcas Family Connections and our local Washington State Women, Infants and Children Program, the Market Bucks project enjoyed its first successful year.

WIC provides seasonal farmers’ market checks for families, but never enough for all who are eligible to participate. The Market Bucks Program was able to fill this void, and increase the amount of locally produced healthy foods to over 50 young Orcas Island families. All who participated were able to shop for fresh eggs, fish, meats and locally grown produce from apples to zucchini.

Thank you to our hard working farmers and food producers for their willingness to take the extra steps in making the Bucks a success. Thank you to the Community Foundation for the donations to fund the Bucks, and to OFC for their financial management to reimburse the Bucks back to the farmers.

Communities throughout the country are developing similar assistance and matching programs to promote higher amounts of locally produced healthy foods to their neighborhood families. My hope is to increase our local Market Bucks program for 2015, and continue to raise the awareness of the connection of health to delicious fresh foods in this win-win-win way.

Tamara Joyner

SJC Public Health Nurse