Hickory – Offering fresh, local foods, Catawba County Public Health’s Farmers Market is returning for an ninth season on June 3.
As local summer crops start ripening once again, the market’s main goal is to offer a safe and convenient way for people to purchase and consume farm-fresh fruits and vegetables. It is open to the public weekly and accepts cash, debit cards, SNAP/EBT, WIC and senior farmers market vouchers.
The market operates each Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. from June through September. It is held, weather permitting, in the Public Health front parking lot at 3070 11th Ave. Drive SE, Hickory, NC 28602. Conveniently located off Fairgrove Church Road, behind Catawba Valley Medical Center, the market has ample parking and is accessible by Greenway bus.
“The market improves individual and community health for everyone by increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and we are excited to offer a safe and convenient way for people to increase their consumption of healthy foods,” said Julie Byrd, Catawba County Public Health Women and Children’s Health Administrator. “Despite the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, we hope the market continues to be a great source of healthy foods for our community as good nutrition is an important building block for a healthy body.”
The market put COVID-19 precautions in place last year and will be following those safety measures again this year to continue protecting shoppers and vendors:
* Vendors spaced further apart to encourage social distancing
* Encouraging farmers, staff and customers to wear masks or face coverings
* Hand sanitizer and cleaning products are being provided for all of our farmers to use at their tables
* Reminders throughout the market for social distancing, hand sanitizing
* Encouraging people to “shop with their eyes” and let the vendor pick and bag produce to reduce people touching produce
* If you are sick, or someone in your home is sick, please stay home and have a neighbor or friend shop for you instead.
Because fresh fruits and vegetables offer excellent nutrition, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clients receive Farmers Market Nutritional Program vouchers when available to supplement their WIC food benefits with fresh, local produce during the summer months. Catawba County WIC clients interested in receiving farmers market vouchers this year may call (828) 695-5884 for more information.
WIC is a federal supplemental nutrition program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women and children up to age five. The program helps prevent nutrition-related problems in pregnancy, infancy and early childhood. WIC benefits are redeemable at participating food stores and farmer’s markets for fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, milk, juice, eggs, cheese and cereal, among other nutritious items. WIC also provides nutrition and breastfeeding counseling, and makes referrals to other health and community resources. Appointments can be made online at https://www.catawbacountync.gov/county-services/public-health/forms/wic-appointment-english/ or by calling (828) 695-5884.
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. https://www.nutritionnc.com/nondiscrimination.htm
Catawba County Public Health promotes and protects the health of all County residents through preventive services, innovative partnerships, and community health improvement initiatives. For more information, call (828) 695-5800 or visit www.catawbacountync.gov/phealth.
