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Low income Canadians will have better access to fresh produce thanks to a $1.5 million investment by the Government of Canada to support Community Food Centres Canada (CFCC).
The funding allows the organization to expand its Market Greens initiative to 30 locations across the country.
The initiative supports healthy eating and increased food access for Canadians in low-income neighbourhoods. It will do this by establishing and increasing access to low-cost fresh produce markets and offering fruit and vegetable vouchers that can be used at participating local affordable markets.
The Market Greens initiative will support local organizations to create year-round community markets that will offer low-cost, fresh produce. These produce markets may also offer activities such as food demonstrations and tips and recipes from Canada’s Food Guide to help participants eat healthy on a budget.
The CFCC will also pilot two programs; a cost-saving voucher program for groups at higher risk of experiencing food insecurity such as newcomers to Canada, Indigenous peoples, those at risk of some chronic diseases and households with young children; and another program where physicians at select community health centres will issue prescriptions for fruits and vegetables, which can be redeemed at participating local community markets.
