Danbury Farmers’ Market Community Collaborative

Equitable Access to Local Fresh Food:
Making it a Reality

Every Saturday, from June through October, the Danbury Farmers’ Market Community Collaborative (DFMCC) enables everyone to share in the excitement and benefits of fresh local fruits, vegetables and specialty food items.

Better Food For Better Health

Obesity and poor nutrition at all ages, underlying factors in most chronic diseases are strongly associated with the inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables. Those with limited resources tend to purchase less fruits and vegetables. Through direct market cash incentives, the DFMCC continues to attack disparities in food purchasing power. Research shows that 79% of the project participants increased their intake of fruits and vegetables.

Striving to provide equitable access to fresh food for all Danbury area residents, and promote health and nutrition, the collaborative of more than 30 community stakeholders, works to both enable those now excluded by limited resources to purchase fresh, local food at the Danbury Farmers’ Market and enhance the market experience for all. Healthy shoppers, healthy vendor profits and a healthy local economy are the goals. At its core, Better Food for Better Health is a community-wide health and nutrition enhancement and engagement campaign, a sustainable agriculture initiative, and an economic development strategy.

DFMCC Nutrition Incentives

For those with limited resources, providing additional cash (purchasing power) is the best incentive to increase buying and then eating, of local fresh fruits and vegetables. Using a market coin system, DFMCC enables Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly know as Food Stamps) recipients to use their benefits at the market and matches an unlimited amount per market to buy nutritious food. DFMCC also matches Senior and Women, Infant & Children’s program (WIC) Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Cards (FMNP).

Participants in one of our market nutritionist chef’s demos receive $15 in market produce money. Attendees at nutrition workshop at either the Danbury Senior Center or New Hope Baptist Church will also receive market produce money.

For those not receiving government food assistance, Fruit and Veggie Health Certificates are available through some community organizations including a community health center and Association of Religious Communities, as part of some of their summer health programs.

Veterans will be provided $10 in market produce coins at the market. ID is required