A program aimed at helping the community use more locally grown foods is being offered by the Eau Claire City-County Health Department at two local farmers’ markets.
The “Veggin’ Out” program provides cooking demonstrations at the downtown Farmers’ Market in Phoenix Park and at the Festival Foods Farmers’ Market. The downtown demonstrations are scheduled for Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Thursdays from noon to 5 p.m. The Festival Foods demonstration is scheduled to run on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The programs aim to help the community use more locally grown food, according to a press release from the Health Department, which added that almost 75% of adults in Eau Claire County report eating less than the five servings of fruits and vegetables recommended each day for good health.
Visitors to the Veggin’ Out tables will learn how to cook easy, healthy recipes for the whole family and to take advantage of the fresh fruits and vegetables available during the summer at local farmers’ markets. Children are welcome at those tables, to taste fruits and vegetables that they haven’t been exposed to previously.
The programs will run through Aug. 24. In past summers, these programs have had over 4,300 visits from community members.
The main goal of the Veggin’ Out program is to support the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. WIC, a nutrition program for eligible women, infants and children offers eligible families a one-time $24 voucher package to buy fresh fruits, vegetables or herbs from approved Wisconsin farmers.
More information about Veggin’ Out or the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program is available from Susan Krahn, a public health nutritionist at the Health Department. She may be reached at 715-839-6941. Information on eligibility for the WIC program is available by calling 715-839-5051,