News from DHR: WIC program inviting farmers to sell produce in summer markets [Apr. 17, 2001]

April 17, 2001

Contact: Barbara Joye at 404/657-1390 brjoye@dhr.state.us
DHR Office of Communications

WIC Program inviting farmers to sell produce in summer markets

Local produce growers are being invited to participate in farmers' markets sponsored by the Georgia Department of Human Resources' Women, Infants and Children nutrition program (WIC). A "farmer's connection" meeting to explain the program will be open to all interested farmers on April 26 at 10 a.m. at Fort Valley State University in the C.W. Pettigrew Building, 1005 State University Drive, Fort Valley. Three similar meetings have already been held in other locations.

WIC farmers' markets have operated successfully for the past two years, expanding last year from eight to 14 locations. The year-round WIC program uses federal funds to provide nutrition education and food vouchers to low-income women and their children. Although the vouchers are for healthy foods such as milk, beans, juice, cereal and peanut butter, they do not include fresh fruits and vegetables.

"We know that the best diet includes five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, to give people the nutrients they need, help control body weight and even reduce the risk of certain kinds of cancers," says Alwin Peterson, Georgia's WIC director. "We know that many WIC participants have trouble affording fresh produce, so we started the farmers' markets to help fill that gap."

Each WIC recipient receives 10 coupons worth $2 each, redeemable only for Georgia-grown produce purchased at a WIC farmers' market. They also receive cooking tips and education about the benefits of eating fresh produce. Last year 9,000 WIC participants bought fruits and vegetables at the 20 markets.

"This is a wonderful program and I am excited to be a part of it," says farmer Gladys Williams, who participated in the Lowndes County market in Valdosta last year.

This year Georgia WIC will spend over $300,000 on the program, up slightly from $187,000 last year. In addition to a federal grant, the project is funded with matching grants from the Federation of Southern Cooperatives and Welch's, plus in-kind services. "Our federal grant depends on how much matching funds we can raise, so we are looking for more support from business, community groups

and foundations," says Peterson.
Local WIC coordinators hope to enroll farmers in May and open the markets June 1. Last year market openings were delayed a few weeks by the drought.
Market locations have been selected in Chatham, Cobb, Crisp, DeKalb, Dooly, Dougherty, Effingham, Floyd, Fulton, Lowndes, Mitchell, Muscogee, Wheeler and Wilcox counties. Georgia growers wishing to participate in a WIC farmers' market can call Sharon Johnson or Gen Hunter at 1-800-228-9173.
April 17, 2001
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