Final Report: Addressing Health Disparities at the Lake Street Farmers Market
In 2024, the Eau Claire Health Alliance served as an advisory group for a grant received by the Eau Claire City-County Health Department to support strategies to improve access to the Lake Street Farmers Market.
Vendor selling produce at the Lake Street Farmers Market in 2024.
The goal of this project was to promote a neighborhood farmers market to three groups that are more likely to experience disparities in food access:
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) who are participate in the Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP).
Seniors who participate in the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP).
Individuals who live in the neighborhood surrounding the farmers market, which is designated as low-income and low access area, also known as a food desert.
The grant focused on the following approaches to increase awareness and utilization of the farmers market:
Partnered with WIC to distribute 200 English and 60 Spanish educational bags including a family-friendly recipe book, Zora’s Zucchini or Sylvia’s Spinach children’s books, and cutting board and knife to WIC families to promote using their FMNP checks at the Lake Street Farmers Market.
Partnered with Eau Claire County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) to hold a SFMNP check distribution event at the Lake Street Farmers Market with approximately 75-100 seniors receiving their SFMNP checks.
Partnered with the Randall Park Neighborhood Association to distribute 12 yard signs and pre-made social media posts to promote the Lake Street Farmers Market.
Read more about the grant findings by clicking the button below.