Farm Fresh Rhode Island blog

With the economy so sour, many families are looking for ways to stretch their food dollars. That doesn’t have to mean turning to fast food, as a new TV ad campaign tries to imply.  Or that families must switch to the overprocessed products that pass for food and dominate many grocery stores.

Providing your family with good, healthful foods is not something that has to wind up on the chopping block. In addition to gardening and cooking more, it makes sense to shop for food that’s in season — it’s more flavorful, has more nutrients intact, and is more affordable when it’s in season and therefore in abundance.

This summer, Farm Fresh is launching two programs to help families on a tight budget access the fresh foods at our farmers’ markets.

Double Value Program for SNAP Participants
When: June - October
Where: 7 farmers’ markets in Providence, Pawtucket, and Woonsocket
Who: Farm Fresh RI with funding from Wholesome Wave

The Double Value Program is simple: a SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) participant brings their EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card to the farmers market and finds the Farm Fresh info booth. A staff person will swipe their card for the dollar amount they’d like to spend, and then match that amount up to ten dollars. For example, spend $16 of SNAP benefits at the market and receive $26 in Fresh Bucks, tokens for use at the market. Farm Fresh RI will pilot the Double Value Program for SNAP participants at seven farmers markets this season.

Healthy Foods, Healthy Families
When: July - September
Where: 4 farmers markets in Providence, Pawtucket, and Woonsocket, see below
Who: Farm Fresh RI, URI SNAP-Ed with funding from Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI

Healthy Foods, Healthy Families program that helps families learn how to turn fresh, seasonal foods into delicious, affordable meals. The program will run at Armory Park and Broad St. Farmers Markets in Providence, and the Pawtucket and Woonsocket Farmers Markets. Low-income families that participate in WIC or SNAP can sign up at one of these markets or by emailing Christie.

The Healthy Foods, Healthy Families program includes recipes, shopping tips, children’s activities, surveys, and cooking demonstrations. All materials and lessons will be in English and Spanish. In order to encourage families to attend several weeks in a row, individuals will receive gifts for participating: a cookbook, a reusable shopping bag, and after completing three weeks, $25 in Fresh Bucks.

We hope that the Double Value program and Healthy Foods, Healthy Families give Rhode Islanders some help with their grocery bill and allow them to continue to make the most of the delicious, nutritious food grown in Rhode Island.