The Crookston Farmers Market, University of Minnesota Extension – SNAP-Ed, Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, and the Polk County Wellness Coalition and Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) are excited to announce the return of the popular Power of Produce (PoP) and Pop+ and introduce SNAP/EBT benefits being offered for the 2022 Crookston Farmers Market season! The Crookston Farmers Market is held every Thursday from 4:00 – 6:30 p.m. at the Downtown Square in Crookston from mid-June through the end of September (except during Ox Cart Days week).
The previous 2018, 2019 & 2021 PoP and PoP+ programs have helped to 1) increase family attendance at the market, 2) improve the eating behavior of children, and 3) increase the customer base and revenue for local growers. All weekly attendees ages 0- 18 or 65 years of age and older have access to $3.00 worth of healthy fruits and/or vegetables. You can sign up for PoP & PoP+ at any time! PoP aims to create new eating habits and encourage learning about where our food comes from and to try new fruits and vegetables; it also has the potential to play a key role in building healthy, prospering communities. The program encourages children, families, and seniors to attend the farmers market every week, creating healthy food purchasing and eating habits, preventing chronic disease, and potentially increasing the market’s customer- base and the revenue of local growers. The Farmer’s Market extends our thanks to those that supported and partook in the first few years of the Power of Produce and new and ongoing sponsors, including RiverView Health, Christian Brothers Ford, Crookston Valley Co-op, AgCounty Farm Credit Services, Anytime Fitness, and Irishman’s Shanty. If you or your organization would like to donate as a sponsor or volunteer during the season, please contact PoP Program Coordinator Geri Lynn at glp8001@gmail.com.
The Crookston Farmers Market, in partnership with U of MN Extension – SNAP-Ed and Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, is also excited to announce SNAP benefits/EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) now being offered at the market. Market Bucks and GusNIP funding are also available as matching incentives for SNAP recipients, increasing access to local healthy foods and sales for local market vendors and growers, strengthening the community, and creating an inviting and inclusive environment. Market attendees can find both the PoP and SNAP/EBT booths at the Crookston Farmers Market this season.
For further information, please contact Megan Hruby, U of MN Extension – SNAP-Ed by email at jans0221@umn.edu, Maureen Hams at Tri-Valley at mhams@tvoc.org, Kirsten Fagerlund, PCPH at kirsten.fagerlund@co.polk.mn.us or Amanda Lien, PCPH at amanda.lien@co.polk.mn.us.
