Garfield Farmers Market program raises children’s food awareness
A new program at the Emerson-Garfield Farmers Market is giving kids lessons in nutrition, gardening and physical activity – while also giving parents time to shop.
Kids Eating Right: Nutrition and Exercise for Life – or KERNEL – started in July. It’s part of Catholic Charities’ Food for All program.
Each week, the KERNEL booth at the market has a different activity for children, from planting seeds to learning about compost, said Jesse Hansen, food systems capacity coordinator for Food for All. After they complete the activity, children get $2 to spend at the market.
“The kids come back and show you what they buy with the $2 reward,” Hansen said.
Carrots and fruits have been popular choices. For some, it’s the first time they’ve gotten to choose something at the market, he said, “because they have the power of money.”
Today’s activity is farmers market bingo. Children will get a card with six fruits or vegetables on it, then head out into the market to talk with farmers about them.
The idea is to teach children “it’s OK to ask farmers questions,” Hansen said.
Next week’s activity will be compost tea; yoga is planned for the week after that.
KERNEL grew out of a desire to help low-income families come to the market, Hansen said. While redemption rates for low-income seniors who get vouchers to spend at the market are 75 to 80 percent, Hansen said the rate for families is around 50 percent. Focus groups were asked about barriers to shopping at farmers markets; transportation and keeping children occupied were among top concerns.
Hansen said having the children’s activities adds another layer to the market and emphasizes the idea that it’s a hangout spot, not just a place to shop.
“It’s good seeing the kids enjoying it,” Hansen said. “It makes it a more interesting environment for everyone involved”
Kimberly Lusk
When: 3 to 7 p.m. Fridays
Where: Emerson-Garfield Farmers Market, in the parking lot of Knox Presbyterian Church, 806 W. Knox Ave.