BC expands coupon program to help lower income residents, expectant mothers
Posted May 5, 2018 2:09 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The provincial government is hoping to make healthy, locally grown food more accessible to some of BC’s most vulnerable.
Health Minister Adrian Dix and Agriculture Minister Lana Popham have announced the expansion of the BC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program to help lower income British Columbians and expectant mothers.
“Farmers’ markets support better nutrition, as well as local entrepreneurs and growers throughout BC,” Dix said at the Trout Lake Farmers Market Saturday morning.
As such, the province is raising the value and number of coupons distributed to people, an increase Dix calls to most significant since the program was introduced.
“The total amount of the coupon will increase by nearly $100, from $240 per participant household, to $336, provided in weekly coupons for four months,” the province explains.
The number of expectant mothers in the program will go up by 450 over the next two years to a total of 3,900.
In order to make the program expansion possible, the BC Association of Famers’ Market funding will increase by $750,000.
“Many communities support this program, and we are thrilled to increase its positive impact on families and local food producers, and to promote our agriculture sector,” Popham said. “Residents and municipalities all over the province are united in their praise for this program, and have been eager to see it continue and grow.”
More than 145 farmers’ markets across BC are represented by the association.
“We are excited with the Minister of Health’s announcement ahead of farmers’ markets reopening in many communities around BC this summer,” said Wylie Bystedt, president of BC Association of Farmers’ Markets and Cariboo rancher. “We know there are significant benefits as a result of this program, ranging from improved population health to economic activity. The program has increased and sustained the customer base for local and regional farmers, which in turn has allowed them to grow and diversify.”
