Farm Bureau Foundations
Providing local, fresh food for co Oklahoma County resident A nrecognized a need for a local
farmers market near where her office is located, and after mounds of paperwork, grant applications and funding proposals, the dream came to fruition after five years of hard work. When the Oklahoma County Extension office moved to the northeast side of Oklahoma City, a food desert, county director LaDonna Hines jumped into action to provide a space to purchase local food for the community members. The Eastside Fresh Market’s first season was summer 2022, and this year is the second year for the market. Vendors from across Oklahoma City and the surrounding area bring fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, honey, baked goods and more to the farmers market every Tuesday from April to October. “Food and nutrition is very important to me, and it is also my passion,” LaDonna said. “Being able to provide people an option to shop local 38 Oklahoma Country
and fresh produce to go home and cook is so important to me, especially in this food desert.” Food deserts are classified as areas with limited access to supermarkets, grocery stores, or other sources of healthy and affordable food. “We knew we wanted to be able to offer the SNAP and other food assistance benefits to the community members,” LaDonna said. “There is a lot of paperwork and requirements that go into being able to offer these benefits and not all farmers markets offer it. We knew we needed to offer it because of the community we are in.” Not only does the farmers market accept federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, but also eligible customers can take part in the Double Up Oklahoma program, which matches dollar for dollar on purchases of fruits and vegetables up to $20 per visit at the market. Eligible seniors in the community can also take part in the Seniors
Farmers Market Nutrition Program – providing easier access to fruits, vegetables, honey and herbs. The market serves as a great outlet for community members to purchase local, fresh food and equips local farmers and ranchers to sell their products directly to consumers. “This market is also for the local farmers to sell their products,” LaDonna said. “Last year, over half our vendors had never sold their products at a farmers market. It great to have a place for them to showcase their products.” The connection the customers create with the producers is a valuable aspect of the farmers market. “We are in a really cool location because we are in the city and just to our east a bit it gets to be very rural,” said Brandi Buys, farmers market manager. “It benefits both sides.” The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture awards ten $500 grants to attendees of the