Photo Courtesy Lars. P
Low-income families in Kansas City will have more access to healthy food grown by local farmers under a grant announced this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
That department awarded $2.9 million to a coalition of partners in Greater Kansas City to expand Double Up Food Bucks, a healthy food incentive program. Local governments and private foundations will match the grant for a total of $5.8 million.
“This program is a win for all,” said Donna Martin, senior public health planner at MARC, one of the leaders of the coalition, which also includes Cultivate KC. “It helps low-income families eat more healthy food, helps local farmers sell more produce, and keeps more food dollars in the local economy.”
The grant will expand several current heathy-food incentive programs to 52 Price Chopper stores and four Whole Foods stores and add new farmers markets.
“Farmers markets are family friendly environments where people can make a personal connection with the farmers who grow their food, and where kids can set lifelong habits of eating and loving fresh fruits and vegetables.” said Katherine Kelly, executive director of Cultivate Kansas City.
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