Boulder County Public Health Communications Office 303-441-1457
Boulder County Farmers' Market Honored for Contribution to
Community
From left: Jeff Zayach - BC Public Health
Director; Mark Menagh - Executive Director Boulder County
Farmers' Market; John Ellis - Board Member - BC Farmers'
Market; Mary Schwietz - BCPH WIC Manager
January 15, 2009 - BOULDER - The Boulder County
Farmers' Market Association was honored last Saturday,
January 10, 2009 for their outstanding contributions in
assisting many of Boulder County's lower income families
through the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.
The program, which is administered by the Women, Infants,
and Children's (WIC) Program at Boulder County Public Health
(BCPH), allows hundreds of families to receive coupons worth
$20 to be used at both the Boulder and Longmont farmers'
markets throughout the growing season.
"This program allows families to have fresh, organic,
locally grown produce and other foods that many of these
families would otherwise be unable to afford," said Mary
Schwietz, BCPH WIC manager. "It has given families the
opportunity to experience the markets, meet local growers,
and teach their children about the growing process."
The market has donated thousands of dollars to fund the
program over the past 15 years, and they intend to continue
the program through the 2009 market season.
"The Boulder County Farmers' Market collaboration with
our WIC Program has been critical in helping to address one
of our very highest health priorities in Boulder County, and
in the nation - the obesity epidemic," said Jeff Zayach,
BCPH executive director. "Programs like this help to ensure
that the healthiest foods are available to those most in
need."
This public-private partnership was the first of its kind
in Colorado. Since its inception, several other counties
have started similar programs in their own counties.
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