Organizers of the Lane County Farmers Market are encouraging shoppers to take advantage of the market’s food subsidy programs as the Tuesday market comes to an end soon. The Tuesday Market will continue through Oct. 28 and will reopen in May.
On Tuesdays, the Lane County Farmers Market sets up at the Farmers Market Pavilion at Eighth Avenue and Oak Street. The midweek market offers a quieter shopping experience than the busy Saturday market, making it easier to browse local autumn produce.
The Tuesday Market features two free-food equity programs. The Little Lettuce Kids Market gives children 12 and under $5 tokens to spend on fresh produce, encouraging them to try new fruits and vegetables. And the Bucka Bucka Bucks program provides two $5 tokens per household for local poultry and eggs, available to households earning less than 300% of the federal poverty level.
Both programs are funded by grants from the Willamette Farm & Food Coalition and Trillium Community Health Plan. Tokens must be used the same day.
In addition, all Lane County Farmers Markets, including the Tuesday and Saturday markets, offer a $20 Double Up Food Buck match for EBT/SNAP users. This match can be used for fresh fruits, vegetables, edible plant starts, mushrooms and legumes, helping more community members access healthy local food.
Organizers of the Lane County Farmers Market are not certain whether the food equity funding is sufficient to stretch those programs through the end of the month. If not, Oct. 14 will be the last day to take advantage of the programs.
Source: LookOut Eugene-Springfield