In northern California, the month of May marks the beginning of the season of abundance. Cultivated fields spring to life with succulent strawberries, peas, and asparagus. Tomatoes and peppers make huge gains in their vegetative growth. Stone fruits begin to softly ripen. Our local farmers ramp up their operations to keep up with harvesting their booming crops and prepare their products for market. Most seasonal farmers’ markets begin in May or early June when farmer vendors have a nice selection of items to make available to eager shoppers. Anyone who has shopped at a farmers’ market can attest to the distinct difference in the experience compared to shopping at a traditional grocery store. The chance to speak to the person who has grown the food you will eat, the hustle and bustle of shoppers, the relaxed atmosphere, and the beautiful displays of incredibly fresh food all lend to the unique experience. Not to mention that purchasing produce at farmers’ markets can oftentimes be less expensive than shopping at the grocery store.
Unfortunately, many local residents have historically been excluded from partaking in the benefits and delights of farmers’ market shopping because they rely heavily on government nutrition assistance benefits, which farmers’ markets may not accept. The Center for Wellness and Nutrition is proud to be a part of changing this paradigm. Through a synergy of funding from the Placer Get Fresh Project and the Farmers’ Market SNAP Support Grant, CWN staff is able to facilitate acceptance of SNAP benefits at two farmers’ markets in the region:
Auburn DeWitt Center Farmers’ Market
Richards Dr. at B Ave.
Auburn, CA 95603
Wednesdays, 10am – 1pm
June – October
Truckee River Regional Park Farmers’ Market
10500 Brockaway Road
Truckee, CA 96161
Tuesdays, 8am – 1pm
May 24 – October
These efforts will improve SNAP shoppers’ access to fresh and healthy foods as well as expand the customer base for farmer vendors. Our team will be joined by staff from the Placer Food Bank to conduct CalFresh (California’s name for SNAP) eligibility screening, to bring even more benefits to shoppers and farmers. If you work with SNAP-eligible populations in the Placer County region, please help spread the word about the opportunity to purchase fresh, locally grown produce at these farmers’ markets. Please contact [email protected] for more information.