Mary Rutan Foundation funds the Power of Produce (POP) Program at area farmers’ markets, Investing more than $56,000 over the past six years, to educate and reward area youth who are learning the importance of eating healthy.
As part of its continuing commitment to support healthy eating in Logan County, Mary Rutan Foundation partners with the Logan County and Indian Lake Farmers’ Markets to offer the Power of Produce (POP) program to area youth.
The Power of Produce (POP) Program is a farmers’ market incentive program for kids, which provides a fun opportunity for them to engage in the local food system through conversations directly with farmers, educational games, demonstrations, and exposure to new fruits and vegetables.
In addition to participating in educational activities, POP kids receive tokens to spend at the market, allowing them to make their own shopping decisions at the market.
Each week, children ages 3 to 12 who participate receive a $2 token to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables, giving children the opportunity to purchase and try new items they have never eaten before.
During the early market days, children may use the tokens to purchase vegetable plants to grow their own produce items, teaching them how to maintain, harvest and eat garden items.
“Part of our work at Mary Rutan Hospital is to understand the needs of the communities we serve to guarantee they have all of the tools necessary to live healthy lives,” said Tammy Allison, chief operating officer of the Mary Rutan Foundation.
“Proper nutrition is foundational to good health We are raising the next generation of market shoppers and healthy food eaters.”
The Logan County Farmers’ Market and Power of Produce Program is open each Saturday morning from 8:30 a.m. until noon from May through September in the parking lot on the corner of Chillicothe and Detroit Street.
“With the support of the Mary Rutan Foundation, hundreds of children (reaching over 400 last year) have had access to fresh, locally grown produce through the POP program and have been able to have new conversations around our local food system,” adds LCFM Market Manager MacKenzie Myers Fitzpatrick.
The Indian Lake Farmers’ Market and Power of Produce Program is open each Saturday afternoon, from 1 to 3 p.m., through the end of August in the Lakeview Hardware parking lot, 8793 Township Road 239, Lakeview.
Alexis Zaborniak of Bellefontaine is the 2020 season’s market manager and incentives coordinator, ensuring that the Indian Lake area has convenient access to the resources and experiences thanks to Mary Rutan Foundation’s support of the POP Program.
For more information about the POP program and area farmers’ markets visit, www.logancountyfarmersmarket.com.