The Nelson County Cooperative Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences in collaboration with the Nelson County Cooperative Extension Nutrition education assistant and the Bardstown Farmers Market Board identified a need to increase vendors knowledge of how to increase the consumption of fresh produce by low income and youth audiences. The group worked closely to create connections with the farmer's market vendors to provide education about how to accept senior and WIC vouchers for the farmers market.  As a result 9 farmer's market vendors signed up to accept vouchers. When the previous distribution agency was understaffed and unable to distribute Senior vouchers, the Nelson County FCS Agnet worked to have the Nelson County Cooperative Extension Office to be the distribution agency for the county. 60 seniors were provided $50 Farmers Market Vouchers through the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Program, bringing a potential of $3,000 additional income to the accepting vendors.

The NEP educator provided sampling at the market and worked with local partners to provide a recipe bag containing ingredients for pasta primavera to 60 Senior Voucher and WIC Farmers Market voucher recipients in an effort to increase their redemption rates.  One recipient shared their finished recipe on social media noting, "My Husband and I loved it. We used snow peas, green pepper, green onion, yellow squash, broccoli, and carrots. The smell in the kitchen was lovely."  

The FCS agent secured funding through a sponsorship by the Nelson County Master Gardeners to offer 4 session of the Power of Produce Club at the Bardstown Farmers Market.  The aim of this club was to increase fruit and vegetable consumption rates and to introduce the farmers market to a wider audience, including low income families and youth.  

• About the participants:
  • 110 unique youth and their adults participated
  • 9 volunteers gave a total of over 45 hours of time 
  • 86 youth came to the market specifically for the PoP club
  • 34 youth came to multiple sessions (20-2, 9-3, 5-4)
  • Of the 39 youth who completed evaluations, 35 tried a new food they liked and 25 have tried those foods again at home.
• Impact on the Farmer's Market Vendors:
  • $518 in PoP bucks were Spent with vendors.
  • $150 of program ingredients were purchased from Market Vendors.
  • One vendor indicated that PoP club families spent an additional $200 beyond PoP bucks at her booth, while other vendors noted that the families average spending twice as much in additional purchases beyond their PoP Bucks.
  • Of the 6 completing evaluations, 83% indicated that they intend to price or package goods in a way that is easier for youth to purchase.
  • The most significant thing vendors noted about the PoP Club:
    • "It brought more people to the market"
    • "It brought new people to the market"
    • "I was able to expose kids to plants and veggies and talk about ingredients and where they come from.  The kids were excited to talk about what they tried and tasted."
    • "I think good for young people including the parents to learn to eat fresh and what's more priceless is eating in season when food tastes the best."
• About the adults bringing the youth to the market: 
  • Averaged spending an additional $15 at the market beyond the PoP Bucks.
  • Indicated that as after participating in the PoP Club, their children help choose and participate in the preparation and consumption of fruits and vegetable more often.
  • They valued:
    • “Education at the stations. ...decision making on purchasing healthy food.”
    • “Introducing my children to local farmers and community.”
    • “Appreciation for locally grown”
    • “Family event with nutrition”