Fresh Food, Local Farmers and Community Connection at the Port Hardy Farmers' Market

From Adult Literacy Coordinator Jeanne James-Hory

Another season of the BC Farmers' Market Nutrition Coupon Program has wrapped up in Port Hardy, bringing fresh local food to North Island households while supporting the farmers who grow and produce food in our communities.

This summer, Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society once again partnered with the Port Hardy Farmers' Market to deliver the BC Farmers' Market Nutrition Coupon Program and offer food literacy activities throughout the market season.

Thirty-seven local households signed up for the program, with 24 households ultimately receiving coupons this season. A total of $4,158 in coupons was distributed for participants to spend directly with participating market vendors.

For some households, the coupons made fresh, good-quality produce more accessible at a time when rising food costs have made it difficult to include as much as they would like in their grocery budgets.

Participants also told us that simply getting to the market could be a challenge. Some shared that they walked because the cost of gas was too high. Through additional food-security funding, we were able to provide gas cards to help with transportation, and participants were very grateful for the extra support.

More Than Coupons

Throughout the summer, our market table also became a place to learn, share ideas and connect.

We offered simple recipes featuring some of the less familiar vegetables available from local growers, along with menu-planning sheets and nutrition information to help people make the most of the food they brought home.

We also brought along conversation cards with questions such as, "What's the strangest food you've ever eaten?", "What food reminds you of home?" and "What's your favourite way to cook Swiss chard?"

The questions sparked some wonderful conversations. People swapped recipes and cooking ideas, talked about favourite foods and shared memories around the table. These simple interactions helped make food literacy social, welcoming and fun.

The program creates a circle of support – participants gain greater access to fresh, nourishing food while the coupons are spent directly with local farmers and food producers.

Thank You

The final Port Hardy Farmers' Market of the season was held September 20, and we would like to offer a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make this year's program possible.

Thank you to the Port Hardy Farmers' Market for partnering with us and providing a welcoming place for the program throughout the summer.

A special thank you goes to the farmers, growers and vendors who brought fresh food to our community market after many hours of planting, tending, harvesting, preparing and travelling. The work behind every market table is significant, and this program would not exist without you.

And finally, thank you to the participants who stopped to talk, shared recipes and stories, tried unfamiliar foods and allowed us to be part of their summer.

The BC Farmers' Market Nutrition Coupon Program shows what can happen when food access, local agriculture, learning and community come together. Fresh food goes home with local households, money goes back to local producers, and somewhere in between, people get to know one another a little better.

For more information:

Visit MWFLS on Facebook or the website: www.mwfamilyliteracy.org

Email Jeanne at: adult.literacy@mwfamilyliteracy.org 

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The Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society works with communities, schools and organizations to support literacy and learning for all ages on North Vancouver Island. Visit the MWFLS website to learn about their free programs at: mwfamilyliteracy.org