Family Market Days promote healthy eating

Pontiac, Mich. – The Healthy Oakland Partnership (HOP) encourages Oakland County residents to participate in their annual Family Market Days. Five-dollar coupons to purchase produce from local farmers are available to residents with a State of Michigan Bridge/EBT card or who are enrolled in Oakland County Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

“We are connecting residents with locally grown, fresh produce and familiarizing them with farmers markets around the county,” said Leigh-Anne Stafford, director of Oakland County Department of Health and Human Services. “Family Market Day events reflect our commitment to helping increase the amount of fresh produce residents’ purchase, and they also support our local farmers.”

Family Market Day this week is 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 26 at the Oak Park Farmers Market in the Oak Park High School Parking Lot, 13701 Oak Park Blvd., Oak Park.

Coupon distribution ends 30 minutes prior to the market’s closing. Distribution is on a first-come, first-served basis. Coupons must be used during the event. No registration is necessary.

In addition to $5 coupons for produce, a variety of activities for families will be available including face-painting, a petting zoo, and prizes. Various resources will also be on-site, including breastfeeding support, and WIC Project FRESH.

WIC Project FRESH coupons will also be available at Family Market Days for eligible WIC clients – pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children ages 1-5 years old. Only one coupon book per family. No appointment is needed to attend WIC Project Fresh. Coupons are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. The Oak Park Farmers Markets also offer Double Up Food Bucks, which matches money spent at a farmers market using a Bridge card/EBT up to $20.

Family Market Days are made possible in part by Henry Ford Health System, Humana, and Trinity Health.

For more information, visit www.oakgov.com/health, @publichealthOC on Facebook and Twitter, or contact Kelsey Merz at [email protected] or (248) 365-8954.