Holland Farmers Market to debut new outreach programs
HOLLAND — As the Holland Farmers Market opens for the season on Wednesday, May 12, several community outreach efforts will be launching as part of a partnership between the market and a local chiropractic office.
Higher Health Chiropractic of Holland “has long been a supporter of the Chef Series and Kids Activities at the Market,” said Holland Farmers Market Marketing Coordinator Kara de Alvare, in a news release announcing the partnership.
“With concerns over COVID-19 forcing us to cancel those events for the second year in a row, they approached us and asked how they could still support our community outreach efforts in a safe and unique way.
“We’re really excited that Higher Health shares our strategic goal of ensuring that everyone in our community has access to fresh, healthy and local food and we’re thrilled about the new programs we’ll be able to launch this season with their generous support.”
New this season is a punch-card incentive program for Bridge Card users to encourage regular shopping at the farmers market.
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After picking up a punch card on their first visit to the market, Bridge Card users can get their card punched each time they visit the market and use a Bridge Card to shop.
The Holland Farmers Market accepts Bridge Cards and participates in the Double Up Food Bucks program, which allows Bridge Card users to receive matching tokens to spend on fresh food at the market.
Every five punches, Bridge Card users will win their pick of an assortment of gifts, including Higher Health tote bags, healthy recipe cookbooks and cooking utensils and supplies.
Children will also have the chance to get their very own Kids Produce Program “dollars” at the Higher Health table, outside the Civic Center, to spend at the market through the new Higher Health Kids Produce Program.
The goal of the Kids Produce Program is to encourage children to make healthy food choices by giving them an active role in selecting which foods they get to eat.
Vendors will be reimbursed by market staff for the Kids Produce Program dollars through the partnership with Higher Health.
Higher Health will also be producing a weekly series of videos for the market, featuring interviews with local farmers and chefs about in-season produce and how to cook with in-season ingredients.
The Holland Farmers Market takes place 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays beginning May 12, at the Eighth Street Marketplace, 150 W. Eighth St.
