Greenwood Lake. Lakeside Farmers Market adopts ‘Market Bucks’ certificates
| 10 Jul 2023 | 01:03
The Lakeside Farmers Market in Greenwood Lake has begun distribution of “Market Bucks,” a $5 supplemental certificate that enables the recipient to redeem it for $5 worth of fresh and/or prepared foods from participating vendors at the Lakeside Farmers Market each week until Oct. 28.
The J&A Farms exhibit at Lakeside Farmers Market last weekend.
J&A Farms is one of the vendors at Lakeside Farmers Market that accepts “Market Buck,” a $5 supplemental certificate that enables the recipient to redeem it for $5 worth of fresh and/or prepared foods. Photos by Peter Lyons Hall.
Some farm markets in the United States are starting to do something about ensuring that enough residents get enough of the right foods to eat.
The Lakeside Farmers Market in Greenwood Lake has begun distribution of “Market Bucks,” a $5 supplemental certificate that enables the recipient to redeem it for $5 worth of fresh and/or prepared foods from participating vendors at the Lakeside Farmers Market each week until Oct. 28.
“The Market Bucks enable a wider audience to be able to participate in local farmers markets in Greenwood Lake,” said Karen Wintrow, Lakeside Market Manager. “The Market Bucks are available from the Greenwood Lake Food Pantry, the Greenwood Lake Senior Citizens Center, and the Arthur Finnegan American Legion Post 1443.”
The new program is sponsored by the Village of Greenwood Lake, the Greenwood Lake food Pantry and the Jesse Dwyer for Warwick Town Supervisor campaign.
About 40 percent of food produced, processed and transported in the U.S. is, ironically, wasted and ends up in our landfills, which leads to a drain on our natural resources, our expenses and our communities, according to Rescuing Leftover Cuisine.
The demand for fresh produce among most shoppers (96 percent) is critical.
“Picking from the produce aisle is considered an investment in personal health and well-being. Consumers increasingly associate fresh produce with digestive health, weight management and disease management,” reports The Produce News.
And judging from the long lineup of consumers at J&A Farms exhibit at Lakeside Farmers Market last weekend, they were on to something.
Top learn more about the Market Bucks program in Greenwood Lake, contact Karen at LakesideMarketGWL@gmail.com, or click on GWLNY.org/.
What the numbers tell us about food insecurity
According to the most recent study of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food Security Status of U.S. Households with Children in 2021 reveal a startling statistic of those homes who experienced enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members: More than 12.5 percent are deficient.
Among U.S. households with children under age 18:
87.5 percent of households with children were food secure in 2021.
Household food insecurity affected 12.5 percent of households with children in 2021. In some of these food-insecure households only adults were food insecure, while in other households children also experienced food insecurity.
In 6.3 percent of households with children, only adults were food insecure.
Both children and adults were food insecure in 6.2 percent of households with children (2.3 million households).