Oakland County WIC Project FRESH event expands

by | Jul 11, 2022 | Regional News

Oakland County WIC Project FRESH event expands to Farmington

Pontiac, Michigan – Oakland County Health Division’s Women, Infants, Children (WIC) program is hosting three Project FRESH events this July offering eligible WIC participants $25 for fresh fruits and vegetables. Project FRESH provides pregnant or breastfeeding woman, and children ages 1-5 years who participate in Oakland County’s WIC program coupons to purchase locally grown produce from authorized farmers, farmers’ markets, and roadside stands throughout Michigan.

“Project FRESH is always a great event for our WIC families”, says Calandra Green, Ed.D., Oakland County health officer. “It helps increase the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables available to our participants, and also positively impact our local farmers and economy.”

Project FRESH will take place the following days:

  • Saturday, July 9 at Farmington Farmers Market, 33113 Grand River Ave. in Farmington, from 9a.m. – 1p.m.
  • Saturday, July 23 at Oakland County Farmers Market, 2350 Pontiac Lake Rd. in Waterford, from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Wednesday, July 27 at Oak Park Farmers Market,13701 Oak Park Blvd. in Oak Park, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Only one coupon book will be issued per family. Appointments are not required. Project FRESH occurs once a year and coupons are distributed on a first come, first served basis.  Coupons must be used by Oct. 31, 2022.

Both the July 23 and July 27 Project FRESH events will take place during Oakland County’s Family Market Day. Oakland County Health Division’s Healthy Oakland Partnership encourages residents to participate in their annual Family and Senior Market Days this summer. Residents with a State of Michigan Bridge/EBT card or WIC Project Fresh coupons will receive an additional $5 coupon to purchase produce from local farmers on Family Market Days, and residents 60 years and older will receive a $5 coupon on Senior Market Days.

For up-to-date public health information, visit oakgov.com/health and follow @publichealthOC on Facebook and Twitter. Nurse on Call is available to answer health-related questions Mon. – Fri., 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 800-848-5533 or [email protected]. For media inquiries only, please contact Bill Mullan, Oakland County media & communications officer, at 248-858-1048.

About the WIC Program

The WIC program enables families to eat well and stay healthy by providing supplemental healthy foods, nutrition counseling and education, breastfeeding support, immunizations, referrals to health care, public health nurses, registered dietitians, and many other helpful services. WIC is open to low to middle income pregnant women; infants; children under five years; women who recently had a baby up to six months after delivery, including miscarriages; and breastfeeding women up to one year after delivery.