Now That’s the Power of Produce: Using Children’s Programming at Farmers Markets to Increase Exposure to Healthy Foods

Through a three-year Jefferson Public Citizens project, a team of undergraduate and graduate
students created a multi-phase project around the Charlottesville City Market. In 2012,
the team created the Power of Produce (POP) Club based off a program in Oregon City. The
project’s main goals were to initiate action-oriented research, to provide better access to
healthy foods, and to expose children to fruits and vegetables in a variety of ways. Based on
local success, the POP Club now seeks to create a national movement dedicated to empowering
children to make healthy food choices through programming at farmers markets. The POP Club
provides farmers and markets with the opportunity to build a lasting and unique relationship
with future generations of local food supporters.

Jefferson Public Citizens Journal