The Power of Produce (POP Club) is an initiative developed by the national Farmer’s Market Coalition. The goal of the incentive program is to bring kids to the farmers markets, helping them learn more about where food comes from in their communities, and to empower them to make healthy food choices. In Year 1 of the CDC High Obesity Program (HOP) project, our team collaborated with the Agriculture and FCS Agents in Martin County to implement the POP Club at the Martin County Farmers' Market for the summer 2019 season. 

The POP Club was held on three days in July and August 2019 in partnership with three local growers. Over the three POP Clubs, 73 youth participated, receiving a total of $269 POP Bucks to spend, and farmers sold a total of 664 pounds of locally grown produce! At each POP Club kids ages 4-14 received $2 in ‘POP Bucks’ to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables. If willing to try a Plate It Up Kentucky Proud recipe, they could earn $2 more. This program provided opportunities for youth to buy local fruits and vegetables, practice money management, and to get to know their local farmers. It also brought many community members to the farmers' market for the first time!

POP Club was made possible through the Martin County Extension Office and the CDC HOP project.