To address the need for youth education related to fresh local produce, the extension fcs agent and NEP assistant partnered with a local farmers' market to offer  POP.  The six week Power of Produce program was as part of  extension's Tuesday's at the Market and featured an activity related to fruits and or vegetables as well as recipe or fresh produce tasting. A POP activity and reflection booklet was given to each child participating. Participants could earn but to $5 in pop bucks each week to spend at the market.  An average of 36 attended 4 or more weeks with attendance ranging from 52 to 74 per week.  At the end of the six week series, booklets were exchanged for insulated lunch totes filled with activity booklets, pencils and crayons to help with back to school needs.  The booklets contained a variety of information related to the child's experience at the market, how they spent their pop bucks and foods they liked as part of the tasting.  The most popular recipe they tried and liked was the yellow squash supreme followed by the berry salsa and carrot muffins.  The most popular activity focused on making cantaloupe melon balls.  Most children also shared they exercised during the week with activities such as running and swimming.  

Plans are already underway for next years program.