We collaborate with local nonprofits, schools, and community groups to create impactful programs that address the unique needs of our community.
At Flint Farmers’ Market, we are dedicated to promoting healthy eating habits within our community. Our nutrition education programs offer workshops and cooking demonstrations that teach individuals and families how to prepare delicious, nutritious meals using fresh, local ingredients. By empowering people with knowledge and skills, we help foster healthier lifestyles and greater food literacy.
Outreach Program Partners
Twenty-five separate businesses at the market accept SNAP Electronic Food Benefits (Bridge Card). In 2011, the market piloted an incentive program, Double Up Food Bucks, which allows Bridge Card patrons to double the value of their purchases (up to $20 per market visit) at the Flint Farmers’ Market, and use their rewards to obtain Michigan grown fruits or vegetables. “Double Up Food Bucks is a state wide program involving over 50 Michigan farmers’ markets. Our unique contribution in Flint involves technology. While vendors at every other market have to accept and manage wooden or metal tokens, customers at our market possess DUFB rewards cards and vendors process the cards using wireless machines and smart phones. By 2012, the program will be fully implemented at our market, and we expect to provide a successful model for other markets as electronic access becomes available at farmers’ markets nationwide.
Through a grant from the Ruth Mott Foundation, the market partnered with Michigan State Extension and the Genesee Intermediate School District to combine nutritional education with supplemental SNAP benefits during the summer of 2010. This pilot program proved extremely successful and will be reintroduced a the Flint Farmers’ Market in 2012.
Partnership with Hurley Children’s Clinic and Michigan State University School of Public Health.
Federal assistance program providing seniors and low income parents – particularly breast feeding mothers – with coupons to buy fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables during the Michigan growing season. Five years ago, we were one of the first in the state to provide Project FRESH Orientation at our market.
Our orientation has now grown to a five week session which includes over 20 partnering Genesee County social service agencies. Given the extreme financial difficulties faced by many families in Genesee County, we believe this information and assistance outreach is the least we can do.
We are a member of MIFMA (Michigan Farm Market Association) and a leading participant in the effort to extend SNAP benefits to farmers’ markets statewide. We are also one of the original members of the Food Based Community Collaborative, a group working to develop an organized local food production and distribution system within the Genesee, Shiawassee, Saginaw, Tuscola, Lapeer and Oakland county food shed.
The market is one of this group’s original members and a destination location for KGCB beautification.
We actively partner with and support this diverse and talented community gardens organization.
Another dimension of our commitment to education. We provide space for GISD ( Genesee Intermediate School District) and MSU nutrition classes, particularly for low income families. MSU Master Gardeners are also on site at the market giving tips and answering questions every Saturday mid-April through mid-November.
Students from pre-school to university age visit the market to talk with vendors, explore the market, and learn more about the food they eat.