cover
TO: Mayor Thomas J. Weisner
FROM: John Russell, grant writer
DATE: April 13, 2016
SUBJECT:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded the City of Aurora Farmers Market a grant of $99,965, to be expended by Sept. 29, 2017, for the federal Farmers Market Promotion Program. Aurora's Farmers Market, under the direction of the Special Events Division of the City Community Services Department, is seeking City Council approval to accept the grant award.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program is to support the development and expansion of farmers markets in order to increase consumption of and access to locally and regionally produced agricultural products. Aurora's Farmers Market, the oldest Market in the State of Illinois, has seen tremendous growth in the number of vendors and Market customers over the past three years. However, the growth in customers has not been seen from all segments of the community. Funding from the Farmers Market Promotion Program will be used to increase outreach, and thus Market participation, from the City's lower-income and minority populations.
BACKGROUND:
Health reports on the local, state and national levels all show that lower-income and minority residents are more likely to be overweight or obese, and to suffer from such chronic diseases as diabetes, in large part because of poor eating habits. The outreach efforts by Aurora's Farmers Market, assisted by this federal funding, will inform residents about nutrition and healthy diets, the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables at the Market, and the importance of eating healthy meals and snacks year-round. The number of visitors to the Market topped 80,000 last year, yet the number of Hispanic families taking advantage of the fresh produce available at the Market was low. Although about 43% of Aurora's residents are Hispanic, less than 5% of visitors to the Market were Hispanic. Aurora's Farmers Market was one of just six progra...
Click here for full text