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Related Programs: Food Stamp Program
The Food Trust is continually increasing the number of farmers' markets that accept electronic food stamps. If you don't see a particular market listed here, please call (215)568-0830 to find out if your local market accepts food stamps. Farmers Wanted! Farmers’ Market
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Farmers' Market Program
The Philadelphia region has an estimated 475,000 people suffering from hunger and malnutrition. Over 200,000 of them are children. Our farmers' markets, located in communities throughout the region, help children, adults and families consume fresh and nutritious food. Our staff provides nutritional information at our markets as well as shopping tips and education about the different types of fresh fruits and vegetables found at the market.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation produced a short video documenting The Food Trust's work to increase access to fresh, affordable food through farmers' markets and supermarkets. Visit The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation website to watch this interactive video.
Taste of the Nation
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To purchase tickets, view participating restaurants or to get involved with a Taste of the Nation Philadelphia, visit www.tasteofthenation.org/Philadelphia.
Headhouse Square Farmers' Market
Thank you for making the Headhouse Farmers' Market a success. The market is closed for the winter, but will re-open on May 4, 2008. Until then, our Clark Park and Fitler Square markets are open throughout the winter offering the best of winter produce, canned and preserved fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat, bread, and value-added products.
About The Markets
The Trust's open-air markets are located in neighborhoods throughout the Greater Philadelphia region including Norristown, Philadelphia, Phoenixville, Coatesville and Chester, PA as well as Camden, NJ.
From June through November, local farmers pile tables with an amazing variety of beautiful, locally grown fruits and vegetables. The fresh foods cover the spectrum from affordable, high quality fruits to organically grown heirloom vegetables. This rainbow of fruits and vegetables is set off by sweet pastries and breads fresh from Amish ovens. Honey, cut flowers, milk, eggs, cheeses, meats, dried herbs, pumpkins and other foods are available along with the abundant offerings of beautiful produce.
The Trust partners with community groups to ensure that the farmers' markets are a vital addition to the local community. Beyond providing valuable access to fresh fruits and vegetables, farmers' markets are neighborhood events and help revitalize communities. Folks come to shop, to meet their neighbors, and to talk. The markets become part of the social fabric of the neighborhood, and are welcomed for that.
Nutrition Education
At the farmers' markets, our staff uses interactive displays as well as informal educational opportunities that often happen around small group and individual discussions. We provide nutritional information as well as helpful tips about the different types of fresh fruits and vegetables found at the market. Special attention is paid to educating people about healthful food preparation. Culturally appropriate recipes are distributed at the markets, based on the products being sold that week. In addition, helpful product displays, clear signage, appropriately sized selections and prices are designed to meet the needs of market customers.
The Farmers' Market Program involves community collaborators, who support the nutrition and food education, and associated farmers' market activities in low-income communities. In previous years, health professionals from Philadelphia hospitals have been on site at farmers' markets to take the blood pressure of participants and give them referrals, nutritional educators from the Philadelphia Nutrition Education Network have conducted health screenings, and community volunteers have children's activities related to health and nutrition.
Farmers Market Nutrition Program
The Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) provides fruit and vegetable checks to low-income families and seniors that can be redeemed at our farmers' markets. The purpose of the FMNP is to provide "resources to women, infants and children who are nutritionally at risk in the form of fresh nutritious unprepared foods (such as fruits and vegetables) from farmers' markets and to expand the awareness and use of farmers' markets and increase sales at such markets" (P.L. 102-314, WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Act of 1992).
The Farmers' Market Nutrition Program is funded through the USDA and participating states, including Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The Food Trust works with NORTH, Inc., the Philadelphia Corporation of Aging, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, the Delaware Department of Agriculture, as well as many community groups in order to ensure the success of this program.
For More Information
If you want to know more about our markets, or are a farmer interested in coming to market, feel free to contact us at contact@thefoodtrust.org by calling 215-575-0444.