A bus service for young families and seniors is starting up again for the summer to give better access to fresh fruit and vegetables at Powell River’s Open Air Market.
The BC Transit shuttle, which ran last summer for the first time, is again being supported by both Powell River Regional District and the City of Powell River. It starts operating Saturday, June 14, and runs every 20 minutes from the north end of Powell River Town Centre Mall during the market’s hours.
The market is open on Saturdays from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm and Sundays from 12:30 to 2:30 pm in the Paradise Exhibition Grounds.
The shuttle is $2 per person for the public to use and free for participating families in the Farmers’ Market Nutrition and Coupon Program.
Last year BC’s ministry of health awarded a $2-million grant to the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets to increase access for low-income families and seniors to locally grown produce, meat and eggs through the coupon program. The market, BOND (Babies Open New Doors) and Powell River Family Place were all accepted into the program. The program benefits 30 families in Powell River and about 800 across the province.
Juhli Jobi, farmers’ market manager, said that they would like to extend the reach of the program to include seniors as well.
“Although the provincial government includes seniors in this program, they were not initially included in the funding for Powell River,” said Jobi. “Fresh, local food is important for everyone, so the farmers’ market will be holding 50/50 draws to help fund the coupons for selected seniors.”
The tickets are sold at the information booth at the market with the draw taking place 30 minutes before closing, she said.
The program provides $15 worth of coupons each week to selected families in Powell River which allows them to buy fresh produce and meat. The distribution of nutrition coupons is managed through Family Place and the farmers’ market will work together with local seniors groups to help identify those with the greatest need, Jobi added.
For more information about the Open Air Market, readers can visit the market’s blog.
