Launched in 2011
National Recognition: 2011 Program of the Year Award from Feeding America
Our Kids Farmers Market Program is an interactive approach to improving the long-term health of low-income children in Santa Barbara County. Each month, the Kids Farmers Market Program provides fresh produce and nutrition education to children from low-income families at 17 after-school programs countywide. The program encourages active, healthy living connecting these children with nutrition education and a reliable, year-round produce source essential for their health and development.
Who is Served?
Elementary School children from low-income families participating in after-school programs in Santa Barbara County.
Program Impact
In alignment with the knowledge that fruits and vegetables are critical to promoting good health, the Kids Farmers Market Program combats health issues affecting low-income children (such as diabetes and obesity) through consistent distribution of produce and nutrition education.
Kids Farmers Market Program provides free produce and education to children of families who may experience an unmet need for a reliable produce source and may not have the financial means to purchase produce on a consistent basis.
Nutrition Education
The Kids Farmers Market Program is an opportunity for the Foodbank to combat the prevalence of obesity and diabetes in the low-income population through nutritious foods and nutrition education.
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- The nutrition education curriculum details how fruits and vegetables are grown, how they are cooked and used, and their nutritional value and importance. It includes learning activities and recipes that promote fresh produce as an alternative to processed food.
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- As part of the curriculum, the Nutrition Educators, Assistants and children prepare and eat a nutritious recipe during each Kids Farmers Market.
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- The children are encouraged to participate in the food preparation activities, taste the seasonal produce and recipes, ask questions and take home educational materials to share with their families.
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- At the conclusion of the nutrition education curriculum, the children gather the produce from the Kids Farmers Market to take home and share with their families.
Opportunities to Get Involved
Community Support
Made up of a core group of committed volunteers, the Foodbank’s Nutrition Educators and Assistants provide on-site educational resources that are supportive and interactive, all with the goal of providing tools to encourage long-term nutritious eating patterns and necessary skills to make healthy choices for a lifetime.
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- Each Kids Farmers Market site requires two volunteers: a lead Nutrition Educator who administers the curriculum and a secondary individual who assists.
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- All Nutrition Educators and Assistants are required to participate in an orientation training before being sent out into the field.
For more information on volunteering, please visit our volunteer page.
Program Sites
| South County | North County |
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Program Partners
YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, ASES
