Kids in Clay County will get this passport for free fruits and vegetables in selected stores. (WVU Graphic)
This summer, kids in Calhoun County will have a chance to “shop” for local produce at select stores throughout the community — for free.
The new Kids Market @ The Store is open to any child ages 4 to 17 in Calhoun County, thanks to a partnership between the West Virginia University Extension Service Family Nutrition Program, the Sisters Health Foundation and local farmers.
Each child will receive a reusable shopping bag and a produce passport to track their “purchases” throughout the program. Participating stores will feature a variety of local produce for children to choose from, as well as recipe cards with easy-to-prepare, family-friendly ways to add more veggies to your plate.
“Letting kids choose their own fruits and vegetables is a great way to get them to eat more fresh, healthy foods,” WVU Extension Service Family Nutrition Program Specialist and Assistant Professor Kristin McCartney said. “This program both gives them that power while also saving their parents money.”
Children will receive a sticker with each “purchase” featuring the item they select to add to their passport. At the end of the program, they will be able to see all the new vegetables they have tried — and mail their passports back for WVU-branded prizes.
The Kids Market @ The Store program will be available at the Outdoor Store in Arnoldsburg, the Mini Mart in Chloe and Chloe Auto & Hardware, Foodland in Grantsville and the Grantsville Farmers Market, as well as Miller’s Kwik Stop in Mount Zion.
To sign up for the program, fill out the survey at https://wvu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9BvcQ1mKrQlsCbk.
WVU Extension Service Family Nutrition Program’s work is supported by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
-WVU-
zrh/05/28/21
CONTACT: Zack Harold
Multimedia Specialist
WVU Extension Service Family Nutrition Program
304.550.2186; zackary.harold@mail.wvu.edu
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