As part of its continuing commitment to support healthy eating in Logan County, Mary Rutan Foundation has partnered with the Logan County and Indian Lake Farmer’s Markets to offer the Power of Produce (POP) program to area youth.

The Power of Produce (POP) Program is a farmer’s market incentive program for kids which provides a fun opportunity for them to engage in the local food system through conversations directly with farmers, educational games, demonstrations, and exposure to new fruits and vegetables. In addition to participating in educational activities, POP kids receive tokens to spend at the market, allowing them to make their own shopping decisions at the market.

Each week, children ages 3 to 12 who participate receive a $2 token to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables. Children are able to purchase and try items they have never eaten before. During the early market days, children could use the tokens to purchase vegetable plants to grow their own produce items, teaching them how to maintain, harvest, and eat garden items.

“Part of our work at Mary Rutan Hospital is to understand the needs of the communities we serve to guarantee they have all of the tools necessary to live healthy lives. Proper nutrition is foundational to good health. We are raising the next generation of market shoppers and healthy food eaters,” said Tammy Allison, chief operating office of Mary Rutan Foundation.

The Logan County Farmer’s Market and Power of Produce Program is open each Saturday morning from 8:30 a.m. until noon in May through September. The market is located in the parking lot on the corner of Chillicothe and Detroit Street (across from the Bellefontaine Post Office).

“With the support of the Mary Rutan Foundation, hundreds of children (reaching over 400 last year) have had access to fresh, locally grown produce through the POP program and have been able to have new conversations around our local food system,” explained LCFM Market Manager MacKenzie Myers Fitzpatrick.

The Indian Lake Farmer’s Market and Power of Produce Program is open each Saturday afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m. through the end of August and is located in the Lakeview Hardware parking lot at 8793 Township Road 239, Lakeview. Alexis Zaborniak of Bellefontaine is the 2020 season’s market manager and incentives coordinator, ensuring that the Indian Lake area has convenient access to the resources and experiences thanks to Mary Rutan Foundation’s support of the POP Program.

For more information about the POP program and area farmer’s markets visit: www.logancountyfarmersmarket.com.

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