Article audio is made possible by CAST11 Prescott Podcast Network. A Talking Glass Media production.

On Saturday, February 17, 2024, Prescott Farmers Market (PFM) began issuing coupons at their Information Booth for free Arizona-grown fresh fruits and vegetables to qualifying, food-insecure households through the Arizona Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP).

The FMNP provides Arizona-grown fresh-cut herbs, fruits and vegetables to women participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), to seniors who participate in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), and to low-income seniors who self-declare through farmers market coupons distributed once per year. PFM is an authorized issuer of FMNP coupon booklets.

WIC participants receive $30 worth of coupons when they show their WIC FMNP Eligibility Card at the market info booth. Participants can obtain this card at their WIC appointment. New this year, the eWIC card and EzWIC app cannot substitute for the Eligibility Card. All WIC participants in a household are eligible to receive the coupons.

CSFP participants receive $50 worth of coupons when they present their yellow CSFP card or self-declare their income

Proxies are permitted to collect the coupons but cannot certify the income declaration. Declaration forms will be available at the PFM Info Booth. Each participant who receives a WIC or Senior FMNP booklet will also receive an extra $50 in FMNP Match coupons.

Coupons must be used towards the purchase of (1) Arizona-grown fresh-cut herbs; (2) whole, fresh Arizona-grown fruits and vegetables and (3) bagged salad mixes that only contain fresh Arizona-grown vegetables at Prescott Farmers Market.

The deadline to receive the coupons from the PFM Info Booth is September 28, 2024, and they must be spent by November 9, 2024. Approved growers will have FMNP signage displayed at their booth if they can accept FMNP coupons. This program is administered by the Chandler-based nonprofit, Pinnacle Prevention, whose mission is to inspire and advance a healthy food system and opportunities for active living. More information about the FMNP can be found here: https://www.azfmnp.org/.

PFM also accepts SNAP/EBT and Pandemic-EBT cards and doubles those purchases for fresh fruits and vegetables year-round thanks to the Double Up Food Bucks Arizona program.

The Prescott Farmers Market takes place every Saturday from 9:30am to 12:30pm at the corner of Iron Springs Road and Miller Valley Road in the overflow lot at Dignity Health – Yavapai Regional Medical Center

Customers can find a variety of agricultural goods: fresh seasonal vegetables, mushrooms, lavender, eggs, grass-fed beef and poultry. Local farmers grow a variety of cold-hardy vegetables including leeks, beets, radishes, carrots, salad mix, parsnips, microgreens, spinach and kale. PFM is a producer-only farmers market, meaning every item sold is either grown or produced by the seller here in Arizona; the majority of goods come from within a 30-mile radius of Prescott.

Dogs and other pets are not allowed at the market. ADA service dogs specifically trained to aid a person with a disability are welcome. An emotional support dog does not qualify as an ADA service dog.

As a vital part of the economy, the mission of Prescott Farmers Market is to support and expand local agriculture, cultivate a healthy community and increase access to affordable local food. PFM is a nonprofit organization and a Qualifying Charitable Tax Credit Organization with the State of Arizona.

For more information, visit www.prescottfarmersmarket.org or call (928) 713-1227.

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