Public Markets Promote Public Health

Dec 31, 2008
May 1, 2024

An unhealthy diet is the leading risk factor for death globally. This public health crisis hits vulnerable populations especially hard due to racist policies, which have shaped low-income neighborhoods and led to limited access to healthy food (otherwise known as food apartheid).

Public markets can play a key role in alleviating these health concerns, improving access to fresh fruits and vegetables, especially for those without grocery stores, and serving as a public gathering place that helps reduce social isolation and depression. Through a W. K. Kellogg Foundation-funded grant program, PPS supported efforts across the country to create economically sustainable markets in low-income communities. With support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, PPS, in partnership with Columbia University, analyzed how eight of PPS’s grantee markets were serving to increase access to fresh food in their communities.

We have prepared a handbook to identify best practices for farmers markets interested in redeeming the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/food stamps) at their markets. This effort makes markets more accessible for lower income customers who are most at risk for obesity-related disease.

In addition to offering access to healthy, fresh foods, markets can also offer critical health and wellness education and information in a friendly, welcoming public gathering space. PPS assisted Kaiser Permanente, the country’s largest HMO, make their network of farmers markets operating at hospitals and clinics more sustainable and beneficial for vendors and customers. And, through a series of grants PPS supported the Camden Area Health Education Center in Camden New Jersey, one of the poorest cities in the U.S. grow their farmers market network from one farm stand to five markets, which are all centers for health information.

Resources

Farmers Markets as a Strategy to Improve Access to Healthy Food for Low-Income Families and Communities

Diversifying Farmers Market Report

Public Markets and Community Health: An Examination

SNAP/EBT at your Farmers Market: Seven Steps to Success

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