Fulton Launches WIC Farmers Markets, Free Food Vouchers

ALPHARETTA, GA -- Farmers markets are an annual rite of passage during the summer months, offering freshly picked fruits and veggies for consumers to savor. However, in many parts of metro Atlanta, residents live in food deserts, low-income areas where neighborhoods lack supermarket access to affordable fruits, vegetables and other foods that make up a healthy diet.

In addition, these areas often lack convenient access to transportation to reach other grocery stores or a farmers’ market nearby.

In an effort to make more locally grown fresh produce accessible to local residents in these underserved areas, the Fulton County Board of Health has launched its Annual Summer Women Infants and Children (WIC) Farmers Market and Nutrition Program. The farmers markets will be held throughout July on designated days and at five selected Fulton County Health Centers throughout metro Atlanta.

While the farmers market program offers free food vouchers for WIC clients, local residents can also purchase fresh produce at cost.

“The farmer’s market makes healthy, locally grown food more reasonably priced, supports local farmers, and keeps federal funds in the community,” said Fulton County WIC Director Danica Carswell. “This year, Fulton County has been allotted 1,500 nutrition vouchers to give to our WIC clients.”

To be eligible for the free food voucher, WIC clients are required to call the health center where they receive their WIC services and register to attend a free 30-minute class on healthy eating. Upon completion of the class, WIC clients will receive the free food vouchers valued at $30 and be able to shop that day at the onsite market. Families with more than one person on WIC are able to receive vouchers totaling $60. The farmers market voucher is in addition to the WIC client’s normal monthly WIC allowance.

The WIC Farmers Market will be held at these five Fulton County Health Centers:

Adamsville Regional Health Center
700 Martin Luther King Dr., Atlanta, GA 30331.
One week only: July 5-7, 2017
Time: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

WIC clients must call the Adamsville Health Center at 404-6123-4215 to register for the nutrition class.

Neighborhood Union Health Center
186 Sunset Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30314.
Monday: July 3, 10, 17, 2017
Time: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Required nutrition class at 9 a.m.

WIC clients must call the Neighborhood Union at 404-612-4665 to register for the nutrition class.

Oak Hill Child, Adolescent & Family Health Center
2805 Metropolitan Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30315.
Tuesday: July 11, 18, 25, 2017
Required nutrition class: 9 a.m.

WIC clients must call the Oak Hill Adolescent Center at 404-612-4111 to register for the nutrition class.

College Park Regional Health Center
1920 John Wesley Ave., College Park, GA 30337
Wednesday: July 5, 12, 19, 2017
Time: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Required nutrition class starts at 9 a.m.

WIC clients must call College Park Health Center at 404-765-4155 to register for the nutrition class.

North Fulton Regional Health Center
3155 Royal Drive, Suite 125, Alpharetta, GA 30022.
Thursday: July 6, 13, 27, 2017
Time: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Required nutrition class starts at 9 a.m.

WIC clients must call North Fulton Regional Health at 404-332-1958 to register for the nutrition class.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an estimated two million Georgians live in food deserts. Greater access to supermarkets, which offer a greater variety of nutritious foods, is consistently linked to lower rates of obesity and diabetes.

In keeping with the Fulton County’s Strategic Priority Area that All People are Healthy, Fulton County is providing increased opportunities for residents to have improved access to healthy foods. Each year, local counties are allotted a specific number of federally-funded WIC vouchers to distribute to WIC clients. In 2016, Fulton County was allotted 1,300 vouchers. Fulton County was one of the few districts who had 100% redemption, Carswell added.

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