Canton Farmers Market Offers Healthy Options for Low-Income Families

Low income families can stretch their dollars a little further simply by using their Bridge Cards at the Canton Farmers Market. 

Now in its third year at the Canton Farmers Market, Double Up Food Bucks, a successful program designed by Fair Food Network, matches Bride Card purchases up to $20 for Michigan fruits and vegetables. 

Canton Farmers Market Manager Tina Lloyd said in order to get involved with the program, the market had to apply for a three-year grant. Now Canton is one of nearly 100 participating farmers markets in Michigan.

"It's really twofold, it's an opportunity for healthy food access for low income families, you know, those that are using the Bridge Card," Lloyd said. "Basically they get up to $20 free, but it can only be used for Michigan fruits and vegetables. So you're promoting healthy food, and you're putting money in the pocket of local Michigan farmers, so you're supporting agriculture."

The Double Up Food Bucks are available to Bride Card users at participating markets each week. 

"It's like a debit card," Lloyd said. "We scan their card, they tell us how much they want to spend, then we can double that up to $20 bonus dollars."

According to Lloyd, the market has definitely seen a surge in the program between when it started in 2011 and last year. 

In 2012, Bridge Card sales were up 60 percent over 2011 and Double Up Food Bucks up 98 percent over 2011, Lloyd said. 

Currently the Canton Farmers Market provides 25-30 onsite vendors every week in its open-aired market, offering farm fresh locally grown produce, locally prepared food and crafts created by local artisans. 

"Our market offers a lot of free-type items that can also be accessed, like entertainment, cooking workshops, gardening workshops, free crafts and activities for the kids," Lloyd said. "So we have some education in there too, which is great."

The Canton Farmers Market is held every Sunday now through Oct. 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The Double Up Food Bucks tokens will be available at the back porch of the Bartlett-Travis House in Preservation Park, located at 500 N. Ridge Road in Canton, MI 48187.

Double Up Food Bucks began in 2009 in five farmers' markets in Detroit. Customers have since spent about $3.5 million in combined Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and incentive dollars for fresh, healthy foods from local producers.

For more information about Double Up Food Bucks, visit fairfoodnetwork.org.