HOUSTON – The Houston Health Department is making fresh fruits and vegetables more affordable with the launch of its eighth Get Moving Houston Farmers Markets season.
The 2019 markets will offer SNAP beneficiaries a dollar for dollar match up to $20 spent on fresh fruits and vegetables through the Urban Harvest Double Up Houston program. In addition to the new incentive, the markets will continue to offer:
- Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers to eligible WIC clients;
- The Fruit and vegetable prescription program FRESH RX to Houstonians participating in a health screening visit or a health education class available at a participating health center; and
- Various deals and bundles to make local fruits and vegetables more affordable.
“Fruits and vegetables help prevent or delay the start of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease while helping people maintain a healthy weight and just feel better,” said Dr. Faith Foreman-Hays, head of the health department’s Office of Chronic Disease, Health Education and Wellness. “
Get Moving Houston Farmers Markets bring fresh fruits and vegetables to communities with low access, also known as food deserts. Since launching in 2011, the markets have benefited more than 20,000 underserved families and distributed more than half a million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables in Houston.
“These markets provide a mutual benefit to farmers, shoppers and local economies by allowing farmers to sell high quality fresh fruits and vegetables directly to the community, meeting the area’s demand for fresh produce,” Foreman-Hays continued.
The markets accept cash, credit, debit and SNAP/Lonestar EBT.
The 2019 Get Moving Houston Farmers Market season runs April 3 through September 26. Markets are held twice weekly at multi-service centers across the city. The 2019 schedule and more information about the markets, incentives and health programs is available at houstontx.gov/health/farmersmarkets or 832-393-4054.