Boulder County Farmers Market celebrated its first annual Food for All Achievement Award on Oct. 7. The award was received by Boulder County Commissioner Marta Loachamin in recognition of the commissioners’ leadership and innovation in addressing food insecurity programs in the county.
“We have — in Boulder County — been a real leader and innovator in building some of these nutrition access programs like WIC doubling and WIC CSA opportunities that have been championed by leaders like the commissioners,” said Mackenzie Sehlke, executive director of the Boulder County Farmers Market.
WIC stands for Women, Infants, and Children and is a supplemental nutrition program that supports low-income pregnant and nursing women and children up to age 5.
In 2016, voters in the county approved the Sustainability Tax that allocated a portion of the sales and use tax revenue to support sustainability programs for local farmers and for those facing food insecurity. These programs assisted many people, especially during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sehlke said.
Through the Sustainability Tax, Boulder County Farmers Market is able to assist families by doubling the dollars WIC participants are able to spend at the market and provide a CSA program for those who are unable to attend the market on Saturday mornings, Sehlke said.
“This WIC delivery program allows us to put together CSA bags that meet the federal nutrition guidelines and are filled with fresh, healthy, local produce,” Sehlke said. “The success of the WIC Gap Program is a testament to our local food producers’ ability and willingness to address food insecurity within Boulder County. As we continue to see utilization of WIC and SNAP programs at the farmers markets remain near pandemic levels, it’s clear that the funding of these programs is essential for the continued health and wellbeing of our neighbors in East Boulder County.”
The funding not only helps families but also provides financial support to farmers. These small-scale farmers often rely on local purchasing in order for their businesses to be successful. Through these programs, Boulder County Farmers Market is able to support 23 local farms.
“I would encourage everyone in the community to investigate their eligibility and utilize these WIC programs in order to access high-quality food. We really believe that everyone should be able to access the food that is grown and produced in our community,” Sehlke said.
