SANDRA MILBURN
Reno County Communications Specialist
RENO COUNTY — The Reno County Producers Market, commonly referred to as the Reno County Farmers’ Market, received a check for $25,000 as part of the Pathways to a Healthy Kansas (Pathways) grant, a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) initiative. Participating in the check presentation event were Pam Paulsen, K-State Research and Extension Reno County Horticulture Agent, left, Claudio Faundez, Group Sales Advisor, BCBSKS, Sparkle Faidley, Reno County Farmers’ Market Board of Directors President, Patrick Romm, Professional Relations, BCBSKS, and Candace Davidson, Reno County Health Department and Heal Reno County.
The Reno County Farmers’ Market signed a Memorandum of Understanding with K-State Research and Extension Reno County (KSRE) and Heal Reno County to expand the operations of the Farmers’ Market to provide greater access to affordable fresh and locally grown produce to the residents of Reno County.
The Reno County Farmers’ Market was created in April of 1985 with the mission to provide a place where producers of fresh produce, baked goods, meat products, art and other handmade products could sell directly to consumers. The Reno County Farmers’ Market operates in a city-owned structure located at the southwest corner of Second Avenue and Washington Street. The Reno County Farmers' Market operates Saturday mornings between 7:30 am and 12:30 pm from early May through the last Saturday in October and Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. from June through the last Wednesday in October.
The funds received from the Pathways grant will be used by the Reno County Farmers’ Market towards the operational and expansion costs to support the ability to accept these programs: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Electronic Benefit Transfer (SNAP-EBT), Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) and Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) benefits programs including the creation of a Market Ambassador position to help customers navigate those programs. Marketing and promotional events and outreach materials to promote the market especially to SNAP-EBT, DUFB and SFMNP recipients, low-income families, and underserved audiences. Adding family friendly entertainment and youth related activities to encourage residents with children to shop at the market. Educational materials and demonstrations to provide information on the selection, preparation and preservation of fresh fruits and vegetables from the market. Training new fresh fruit and vegetable vendors to increase their number at the market and development of a public survey to determine why residents are not shopping at the market and what measures can be taken to encourage more residents to do so.
Pathways to a Healthy Kansas is a community grant initiative launched by BCBSKS in 2016. It partners with community coalitions like Heal Reno County to improve active living, healthy eating, and commercial tobacco prevention across the state.
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