[FMC] Farmers Market Educational activities for kids

[Janet A. Chrzan]

Dear fellow FM folks,

 

I would be very grateful if members would recommend particular
programs/educational activities/ etc. that have been used successfully at
farmers markets and other public events for encouraging increased vegetable
and whole fruit intakes to toddlers through teens, ideally with an emphasis
on the under-10 crowd.

 

Last year I started a farmers market in my town, and this year the town has
given us permission to do some educational programming on site. Obviously,
these will be short and fun programs designed to get kids interested in
eating vegetables and knowing more about food. Our market is located in a
middle/upper middle class area, and these are kids activities only (ie we
aren't trying to teach moms to cook/use veggie with this activity - we do
that with other programming). We have very little money, so the programs
will have to involve a minimum of capital outlay; we won't be buying any
proprietary programs (or hiring anyone) and all the events will be run by a
group of volunteers. They also must leave the area clean afterward and be
'safe' for kids to do. We've contemplated zucchini races, tomato and other
vegetable decorating, and painting with carrot tops. I have access to the
WIC materials, and the five-a-day program site, and will be doing a general
Google search of programs and activities, but would appreciate hearing about
any particular programs members may have initiated that they felt were
particularly effective. Thank you!

 

Please respond to jchrzan at sas.upenn.edu

 

Many thanks!

 

Cheers, Janet

 

 

_________________________________
Janet Chrzan
Anthropology Department
University of Pennsylvania 

 

"Ah,  to be in Minnesota when the rutabagas are in bloom." Grouch Marx

 

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