Area Parents to Receive FVRx Vouchers to Redeem at Farmers’ Markets
Stevens Point, Wisc., June 1, 2017 —The Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program (FVRx) will resume this summer through the Fruit and Veggie Works coalition in Portage and Marathon Counties. Community members will receive free FVRx Prescriptions from their pediatrician or health care provider to redeem at local farmers market.
“Reports on Wisconsin’s health status show that we all have room for improvement when it comes to fruit and vegetable consumption,” said program director and local Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Ashley Chrisinger, “this program was designed to encourage pediatricians and health care providers to help their patients eat more fruits and veggies by using local resources. The prescription can be used to pay for produce at the market and in and around the Stevens Point Area.”
For Stevens Point residents, when your health care provider hands you an FVRx Prescription, you take it to the Farmers’ Market and exchange it at the Farmshed booth for fruit and vegetable tokens. In addition, the program website and Facebook page provide information on how to buy, store and consume local produce as well as an opportunity to connect to a community of parents and resources all focused on the same thing: getting our kids to enjoy more fruits and veggies.
Local mom and volunteer with the program, Cara Brooke Adams said, “Our hope is that this prescription becomes an incentive for families to visit their farmers’ markets and explore local fruits and veggies together, and that exploring the farmers market sparks an interest learning how to eat more fruits and veggies!”
The fruit and vegetable prescription vouchers are available to be redeemed wherever EBT is accepted at participating locations, including at the Stevens Point Farmers’ Market, Wausau Farmers’ Market , Aspirus Farmers’ Markets at the Wausau hospital location. A volunteer at these markets will provide you with tokens to trade for fruits and vegetables at the market stands and enter your FVRx into drawing for various prizes throughout the summer, including the big, final prize: a CSA membership!
The FVRx program is modeled after a program that originated on the east coast, designed by Wholesome Wave and is made possible through a collaboration with the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point,The Farmshed and area farmers markets. Piloted in 2015, the FVRx Program has continued to receive funding and support from Aspirus and St. Michael’s hospital to reach more central Wisconsin community members. More information about the 2017 FVRx is available online at http://portagecountycan.org/fruits-and-veggies/ or on Facebook @ FV Works.
Fruit and Veggie Works and the FVRx Program is part of Portage County Can (PC CAN). PC CAN builds networks and resources to foster active living and healthy eating behaviors in Portage County. Our vision is to engage Portage County in being the healthiest community in the state. Visit www.portagecountycan.org for more information.