BC Farmers Market Nutrition Coupon Program

 This program provides coupons for local farmer’s markets to those who identify as low-income, increasing access to healthy, local food.

Nanaimo Foodshare Society is proud to be a community partner working with the BC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program (BCFMNCP) in partnership with the Island Roots Market at Beban Park. This is a 16-week program that offers eligible participants weekly coupons with a cash value of $21, to be spent at the market on fresh produce, eggs, meat, fish, cut herbs, dairy products and more.

To be eligible to access the program, participants must be:

• Seniors, have children under 19 at home, or be pregnant; and
• Identify as having a low-income; and
• Demonstrate a connection to a food skills program

All participants who are not connected to existing food skills programming must attend a food skills activities. To support participants in meeting this requirement, Foodshare will deliver food skills activities, at no cost to participants.

In the 2020-21 fiscal year, this program provided $25,872 worth of coupons to low income families/seniors in the community. The coupons are spent with local farmers at the Island Roots Market, resulting in a $53,760 benefit for the community.

Program is full for 2022, Applications typically come active in May.