Food Access Through Farmers Markets

Governor Walz declared August 4-10, 2024, Farmers Market Week in the State of Minnesota!

The Minnesota Department of Health Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) is invested in reducing instances of preventable chronic diseases, and eating more fruits and vegetables is a big part of making that happen. That’s why we are committed to promoting access to fresh, local foods, right in the heart of your community, through farmers markets.

Check out these other ways farmers markets contribute to the health of people and communities: 

• Increase social connection.

• Encourage gathering with neighbors and spending more time outdoors.

• Support the local economy.

• Give growers and producers a place to sell directly to shoppers.

• Increase access to fresh produce, especially by accepting SNAP and other programs such as Market Bucks and the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

A big part of providing access to nutritious food and farmer-grown produce is through community-centered relationships. SHIP has supported active partners in this area, including Duluth’s American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO). AICHO hosts the Indigenous Food and Art Market that shares the culinary traditions of local indigenous communities while bringing fresh, healthy, locally grown and produced foods to the Hillside community and Duluth.

All Minnesotans should be able to easily access healthy food options. While our partnerships with farmers markets have been fruitful, we know there’s a lot of work left to do. Too many Minnesotans still face barriers to getting healthy foods.

That’s why we continue to listen to community members whose knowledge and experiences help shape our support for a thriving local food system. Recently, local public health experts conducted interviews with Duluth residents around food access. Here’s what one participant had to say:

The unalienable rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I think that is closely tied to food. Food makes people smile and is tied to emotions. Funerals, celebrations, weddings—all of these major life events—there are foods! Happiness is so closely tied to food, and food is so closely tied to our rights.