Every Wednesday morning, farmers display their wares in a parking lot in southwest Fort Worth for the Cowtown Farmers Market.
“This is the other side of the board that people don’t see,” said Julie Butner, president and CEO of Tarrant Area Food Bank. “And that’s to create access so that when people come out of the crisis and can stand alone, they have access to fresh products that they can buy themselves.”
TAFB works with Cowtown Farmers Market and others in the area for its Farmers Market Nutrition Program. Customers can take advantage of WIC and SNAP / EBT to buy fresh produce.
“We’re bringing these markets into communities that don’t have access,” Butner said. “It just ensures that everyone has equal access to fresh produce and good nutrition.”
“We love fresh produce,” said customer Kaylee Holland, who uses her WIC vouchers to buy bags of fresh pumpkin and vegetables. “Even if it’s so hot today, I prefer to be here and look at the fresh things than in the supermarket.”
Cowtown Farmers Market Manager Charlie Blaylock can see his younger self in the kids walking past his farm stall.
“We were needy. My parents worked very hard, ”said Blaylock. “I see people – really friendly people – who need a little help, and I’m fine with that.”
The partnership with the Farmers Market Nutrition Program with Texas Health Resources, Blue Zones and Texas Healthy Communities enables shoppers using coupons and tokens to double their value.
“We can all gradually build more community,” said Blaylock.
The Tarrant Area Food Bank Farmers Market feeding program has multiple locations and times. Visit their website for more information.
