Pace Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program Announces 2011 Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program

5/26/2011

Pace Community Action Agency’s WIC Manager, Kathy Nippert, announced today that the 2011 WIC Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) will begin June 1. Farmer’s Market Checks will be issued with WIC checks beginning next week.

Each Knox County WIC household with a participant who is 12 months old or older by June 1, 2011 will be eligible for one set of checks. The six- $3 checks are worth $18.00 for the season, and will be issued as long as the limited sets of checks are available.   Farmer’s Market Checks, with their barn logo, may be redeemed between June 13 through October 15 at approved Vendors or Farm Stands displaying the Indiana WIC Farmer’s Market Poster.

The Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program was implemented in 1992 to help local farmers develop more local patrons for their locally grown produce and to provide more fresh, unprepared  produce for WIC and Senior participants.   FMNP was reauthorized for an additional 5 years during the fall of 2009. WIC participants also receiving SNAP benefits will be able to redeem their SNAP benefits at the Farmer’s Market of Historic Vincennes which opens Saturday, May 28.  

In addition to the Farmer’s Market Checks available to each family with WIC participants over 12 months old, WIC also provides Cash Value Vouchers for fresh and frozen produce from approved WIC Grocery Vendors.  “This increase in the availability of fresh produce to WIC participants is helping promote healthy lifestyles and fight obesity,” said Nippert.

The WIC Program is currently taking appointments for new clients. For more information, contact the Pace WIC Clinics located at:

• 715 Wabash Avenue, Vincennes at 886-0107,
• 2 North 21st Street, Washington at 254-0002 ext. 3,
• Bicknell UMC, Bicknell at 735-3040 (Wednesdays)

Pace Community Action Agency, Inc. is a private not-for-profit Community Action Agency established to provide support services to improve the community and encourage self-reliance.