Catawba County News

CCPH Farmers Market Returns

CCPH Farmers Market Returns

Published: June 12, 2020

Catawba County Public Health Farmers Market to Open June 18

HICKORY, NC – As local summer crops start ripening once again, Catawba County Public Health’s Farmers Market is returning for an eighth season.

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.

Farmers market hours are Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and it operates from June 18 through September 24. It is held, weather permitting, in the Public Health 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 routes 3 and 4.

The market has put the following safety measures into place to help protect residents:

  • 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
  • One-way traffic so people don’t meet face to face

If you are sick, or someone in your home is sick, please stay home and have a neighbor or friend shop for you instead.

The market improves individual and community health for everyone by increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition, 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.

“We are excited to offer a safe and convenient way for people to increase their consumption of healthy foods, while also increasing redemption of WIC Farmers Market Nutritional Program vouchers,” said Julie Byrd, Women and Children Health Administrator at Catawba County Public Health. “Despite the challenges, 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.”

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. Appointments can be made online at https://catawba.seamlessdocs.com/f/2vhqyyjtr5n4 or by calling (828) 695-5884.

The Catawba County WIC program remains operational from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but will be providing services by phone. This includes issuing benefits, coordinating breast pump needs for breastfeeding women, and providing nutrition and breastfeeding education. Staff can provide WIC EBT cards to new participants through the mail or will coordinate pick-up. If there is a need to change infant formula, please contact the WIC office. Drop-offs of unused containers of formula can also be made at the front door of Catawba County Public Health. WIC staff have the ability to certify clients for the WIC program without the client needing to be present.

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 Catawba County residents through preventive services, innovative partnerships, and community health improvement initiatives. For more information, please call (828) 695-5800 or visit www.catawbacountync.gov/phealth.