To What Extent Do Local Farmers' Markets, Community Supported Agriculture Programs, and Community Gardens Help Low-Income Families Improve Access to Fresh, Local Produce?

Author

Christy Gene Somsen, Utah State University

Date of Award

5-2010

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Departmental Honors

Department

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences

Abstract

Farmers’ Markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Programs, and Community Gardens have been developed to help farmers. Many times, they also aim to help low-income families improve access to fresh produce. Often, these programs may end up helping a larger amount of middle class families instead of lower class families. There have been many programs developed to try to better help low-income families such as the Women Infant and Children (WIC) Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) and allowing farmers to accept WIC Cash Value Vouchers (CVV), which allows WIC participants to buy fresh produce. Farm to School Programs have also been great programs for helping farmers and improving fruit and vegetable intake in students. Many states have implemented these programs and have given great examples of how these programs can be developed and put into action. Utah has farmers’ markets, a few CSAs, and some community gardens that all could be improved upon. Utah does not employ the WIC FMNP nor allow farmers to accept the WIC CVVS. There are also only a few Farm to School Programs in Utah. These are some great programs that could be implemented in Utah to better help the local farmers and community.

Recommended Citation

Somsen, Christy Gene, "To What Extent Do Local Farmers' Markets, Community Supported Agriculture Programs, and Community Gardens Help Low-Income Families Improve Access to Fresh, Local Produce?" (2010). Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects. 60.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/honors/60