A program that provides low-income families with fresh, locally-grown produce may have to be abandoned after provincial funding dried up.
Last summer low-income families had access to the Squamish Farmer's Market produce thanks to a program that saw $15 coupons distributed each week to 50 low-income families in Squamish from July 1 to October 15.
The selected families were also provided educational opportunities through mandatory skill building and cooking classes.
Mother of four, Satoko Harrison, said had it not been for the program, she wouldn't have been able to afford so many vegetables, let alone local produce.
"It was also a huge discovery process where I could feed my children vegetables they would never have had the chance to try," she said.
The province and local partners started the program across the province in 2007 through the B.C. Association of Farmer's Markets.
It was designed to increase access to fresh B.C. produced farm products for low-income pregnant women and low-income families with children, complemented by existing cooking and skill building programs.
"It was a fantastic program and it's amazing because it subsidizes low-income families and guarantees healthy food for them," said the Farmer's Market manager Carolyn Maurice. "And the money goes right to the farmers - it's magic."
The coupons could only be spent on fresh food such as B.C. produced fruit, vegetables, dairy, eggs, meat, fish, nuts and fresh cut herbs.
At the day's end, the Farmer's Market Association would collect the coupons and reimburse the vendors with cash.
"It was a huge success," said Sea to Sky Community Services director of early childhood development Suzie Soman. "It brought real food to the families every week which is a win-win situation for the farmers and the families."
Soman found local participants through the organization's Healthy Pregnancy Outreach Program, Castle Rock housing and the Brackendale Co-op.
Due to this year's economic climate, the B.C. Association of Farmer's Markets could not fund the program, according to the organization in a letter sent to Sea to Sky Community Services.
"We have made the decision to cancel funding for the 2010 season, it will be revaluated as economic climate shifts and more funds become available," stated the letter.
But the decision wasn't for lack of success.
The B.C. Association of Farmer's Markets released a report stating the program made 83 per cent of participants eat differently and 70 per cent of participants eat foods they had never tried before.
According to Soman, numerous families have been asking about the coupons and all she can tell them is they don't have the funding. She said if they had some other funding source, the program could be re-instated.
"For $12,500 we could make this program work again," she said.
According to the Farmer's Market Board Chairman, Bill Brumpton, Whistler's Farmer's Market was not eligible for the provincial grant last year, so they looked elsewhere and now have a similar program funded by Rotary.
Maurice said she hopes the same generosity can be found in Squamish.
"It would be great to get something set up that could be financially supported by local groups," she said.
Anyone interested in donating or with ideas on how to help can contact Carolyn Maurice at 604-815-0928.
