The Bath County extension office team partnered with the Bath County Farmers Market to offer the Power of Produce program to youth in Bath County .  A grant was secured to provide funding for youth to earn dollars towards the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetable at the farmers market.   The Family Resource centers in the county and the Bath County public library promoted and assisted with each day as well.  The youth earned their bucks by completing educational programs related to healthy lifestyle choices during POP days at the market.  Each youth had the opportunity to earn $6.00 during each program.   POP was offered on 4 farmers market days during July and August.  The POP program teaches participants the importance of eating healthy and the benefits of exercising through fun activities geared toward youth.  At the end of each POP session, the participants were able to take their earned dollars to the market and put their new found knowledge into practice by selecting fruits and vegetables.  Many of the youth looked for specific items that were discussed in the POP program and thus had a chance to try an make a new food friend.  As part of the program, a healthy food recipe was prepared and trying something new was one of the activities that youth were able to earn shopping bucks by doing.  The goal of the program, overall, is to introduce youth to healthy foods and try to find ways to encourage them to eat  and live a more healthy lifestyle, thus reducing the incidents of childhood obesity, diabetes, blood pressure problems and other health issues.  This is the 4th year for the Power of Produce program and each year we see participation increasing.  One testament to the success of he program is the number of returning participants.  With nearly 30% of youth having participated in previous years, it is evident that both youth and guardians are recognizing a benefit to the program.  The 2022 program had an average attendance of 21 youth ranging in age from two to fourteen years with an average age of eight years old.  These youth earned a total of $492 in POP bucks that they used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables of their choice at the farmer's market.  Comments from the parents were very positive as they talked about the excitement when they were able to use the products they brought home in various dishes they prepared for the youth participants.  This program is the first step in the promotion of healthy eating by allowing kids to try new things and earn rewards for their efforts.