The Lompoc Valley’s new Route One Farmers Market can be joining markets throughout the USA in celebrating National Farmers Market Week, Aug. Four-10.
The community is invited to rejoice nearby food, farmers and the debut of the brand new CalFresh/SNAP/EBT software at Route One Farmers Market, 10 a.M.-2 p.M. Sunday, Aug. Four, within the Vandenberg Village Community Services District parking zone, 3745 Constellation Road.
The birthday celebration will feature a ramification of gadgets on the market which includes sparkling nearby produce, artisanal bread, cold-pressed juices, hand-crafted crafts, African buying baskets, and meals truck lunch options. Kids activities are to be had for all with no buy necessary.
There could be a possibility for households to signal children up for the upcoming Power Of Produce (POP) Club.
As the call for nearby meals maintains to develop, so too have opportunities for America’s farmers to market fresh food directly to the consumer. According to facts lately launched by way of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farmers markets and farm stands account for more or less $2 billion of the $three billion Americans spend yearly on farm-direct merchandise.
This revenue, in flip, supports the livelihoods of greater than a hundred sixty-five,000 mainly small- and mid-sized farms and ranches. Route One helps eleven Lompoc Valley growers, dispensing loads of kilos of locally grown food to customers.
Farmers markets additionally play a key role in providing all Americans with get entry to nutritious meals through their participation in CalFresh or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), additionally known as food stamps and furnished as Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT).
Route One Farmers Market strives to enhance get right of entry to for all network participants, along with the ones taken into consideration low-income, by using accepting CalFresh/EBT/SNAP supplemental earnings advantages at the market.
“Route One is proud to be the simplest farmers market north of Solvang with the potential to simply accept CalFresh advantages in Santa Barbara County,” stated market supervisor Shelby Wild. “This gets admission to factor has the capability to boom sales for our nearby farmers and offers a brand new opportunity to buy wholesome food.”
“SNAP offers nutrients blessings to complement the meals price range of needy families in order that they should buy wholesome meals and pass in the direction of self-sufficiency,” the USDA, says.
EBT card holders are invited to visit the marketplace supervisor tent and swipe their card to acquire tokens that may be used like coins to shop for fresh meals from any marketplace vendor. Credit and debit cards may also be used in the same manner. This software provides extended community to get right of entry to market goods at the same time as helping monetary opportunities for our local farmers and producers.
The introduction and ongoing assist of this market have been a joint attempt among the Healthy Lompoc Coalition, Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization, HEAL Advisory Cabinet, Public Health Department’s CalFresh/Snap-Ed, the Santa Barbara Foundation, and key Lompoc advocates and supporters.
“Farmers markets play a critical role now not just in producing real income for farmers, however in forming a healthy, wealthy meals structures,” stated Jen Cheek, application director of the Farmers Market Coalition.
“By supplying the possibility for farmers to attach at once with purchasers, markets function education centers,” Cheek stated. “Vendors are coaching clients approximately agriculture and sharing recipes and new foods with their buddies. Markets are making people and groups more potent and more healthy.”
The weekly Route One Farmers Market, 10 a.M.-2 p.M. Sundays, features locally grown produce and items from:
Bautista Farms, Dare 2 Dream Farms, Flower Valley Candle Co., Gold Coast Mushrooms, Julia’s Juices, Maite’s Vegetables, Mendoza Farms, Rocking Chair Farms, Sunbeam Farms, and Sweet Succulents.
Local bakers Three Flies on a Knife could be sell pastries and sourdough bread, and Patsy’s Baked Goods and Confection will provide an area of expertise diet-pleasant treats.
Makers and craft vendors added to the unique occasion consist of Biker Spice, Hippie Hues, J.F.Y., Natural Mystics, TMJ Handcrafted Wood, Tupperware and Wanderlust Wildcraft, imparting regionally-made crafts, goods, food garage and frame products. Feed My Seoul meals truck will lunch fare.
