Fresh to Families

Support Families with Fresh Food Coupons

Donations of $20 or more are eligible to receive a charitable tax receipt through our partners at Vancity Foundation.

 

As a non-profit organization with deep roots in the community, we at Vancouver Farmers Markets believe that healthy, locally grown food should be available to everyone, regardless of income.

What is Fresh to Families?

Since 2015, our Fresh to Families Fund has provided fresh food direct from our farms and producers to families living with low-income, newly arrived refugees, and at risk expectant mothers living in our community. The Fresh to Families Fund is an expansion project of the Farmers Market Nutrition Coupon Program, a province-wide healthy eating initiative lead by BC Association of Farmers Markets and the Province of BC. The fund Supports families living with low-income, seniors, and pregnant people with food skills and nutritional programming, while providing participating households with fresh food coupons that can be spent for fresh produce, meat, eggs and dairy at farmers markets

How does it work?

• Participants shop for culturally appropriate food that suits their diets at our farmers markets – This is not just food, but dignity and opportunities for empowerment through choice
• This Supports the livelihoods of BC farmers and producers through increased sales at farmers markets
• The process itself Fosters community integration across neighborhoods and allows individuals to connect with people with similar backgrounds, and thus expand their horizons.

How can you Donate to the Fund?

Fresh to Families coupons always have double the impact: each $3 coupon feeds families with fresh, local food while also benefiting local farmers, who receive the full value of each coupon.

Donations of $20 or more are eligible to receive a charitable tax receipt through our partners at Vancity Foundation.

How your donations can help:

• A $30 donation brings a family to the farmers markets one time
• A $120 donation brings a family to the market for an entire month
• A $600 donation brings a family to the market for an entire market season
• A $1,200 donation brings a family to the market for two market seasons

Who does Fresh to Families help?

• Fresh for Families provides funding and support to The BC Association of Farmers Markets Nutritional Assistance Program. Serving 18000 families, seniors, and pregnant people throughout 85 communities across the province.
• Supports small-scale BC farmers and producers. Every dollar that feeds a family is spent directly with a farmer at the farmers markets, providing a small-scale BC farmer with increased sales and positively impacting our local economy.
• The BCAFM has done an amazing job tracking the performance of this program. You can find the most recent report here.