DEARBORN, Michigan – The Farmers and Artisan Market Dearborn sponsored by the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce accepts Bridge Cards from residents who rely on these benefits to bring healthy food home to their families. There is a new exciting program for Bridge Card users called the Double Up Food Bucks program.
Michigan Cherries - for sale at the Dearborn Farmers and Artisans Market on Friday July 1, 2011
The Double Up Food Bucks program is going on from now until October 30! Double Up Food Bucks matches SNAP Bridge Card purchase, dollar to dollar, with up to $20 worth of Free DUFB tokens per visit that you can use to buy Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables. Farmers and Artisan Market Dearborn is one of over 40 participating market sites around the state. See www.doubleupfoodbucks.org for market locations and more information. Double Up Food Bucks is a project of the Fair Food Network. For more information, Call (734) 213-3999 ext. 203.
“Our vendors provide fresh, local and healthy food for all of our area’s residents,” said Joan Reed, who manages the Farmers and Artisan Market Dearborn. “It makes sense that improving access to fresh, healthy food will help those most in need.”
To use your Bridge Card at the Farmers and Artisan Market Dearborn, bring your card to the market managers table. There, shoppers can determine how much they would like to spend and get tokens equal to that amount. Shoppers can then use their tokens in any participating vendors throughout the market to purchase any eligible food product. Vendors cannot give change, but will work with shoppers to make sure they get their money’s worth. Tokens don’t expire, so if shoppers don’t use them all the same day they are redeemed, they can use them on their next market visit.
Young lady selling onions, leeks, broccoli, and radishes at the Dearborn Farmers and Artisans Market
Across Michigan, a group called the Michigan Farmers Markets Food Assistance Partnership is working to help low-income Michigan consumers get to know their local farmers. This group received a grant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers Market Promotion Program aimed at supporting the use of Bridge Cards at Michigan farmers markets.
The project has three objectives:
- To expand the number of farmers markets in the state that accept Bridge Cards;
- To support the markets already involved in the Bridge Card program; and
- To maintain the Michigan Farmers Markets Food Assistance Partnership.
The Farmers and Artisan Market Dearborn is located at 22100 Michigan, behind the Bryant Library. It is open on Fridays from 8 A.M. to 1 P.M. For more information, contact Joan Reed at (313) 584-6100 or via email at JReed@dearbornchamber.org