Healthy Oakland Partnership - Farmers Market Program

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

The Healthy Oakland Partnership (HOP) is a health coalition initiated by the Oakland County Health Division (OCHD). In a period of eight months, HOP’s Farmers Market Team worked to increase fruit and vegetable intake and access to healthy, safe food among Oakland County residents through a comprehensive Farmers Market Program. The coalition, with technical assistance from OCHD, addressed the problem of limited availability of fresh food for low-income residents by increasing acceptance of food assistance programs at farmers markets. This initiative increased the number of markets that accept federal food assistance programs from one to six; helped ensure that local farmers markets follow food safety protocols; and implemented theory-based marketing and nutrition education activities that combine social marketing and interactive learning experiences. The HOP Farmers Market Program is a successful demonstration of a local public health agency utilizing partnerships and resources to address health inequities and improve community health.