WIC Summer Farmers Market Vouchers Available Beginning June 12th

By Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, Garrett County Health Department

With summer fast approaching, many of us are dreaming of the fresh vegetables that are just around the corner. Whether we grow them in our own gardens, buy them at local farmers markets, or look forward to the fresher tasting varieties that are available in the supermarkets, summer and vegetables go together.

At the Garrett County Health Department, staff in the WIC office are excited to begin distributing farmer’s market vouchers to clients on June 12^th.

“Vegetables in any form are better for us than fast food and prepackaged highly processed foods, but we all know that you can’t beat the taste of vegetables that come straight from a garden or field to our tables,” said Caroline Evans, Director of the WIC program at the Health Department. “We are fortunate to be able to provide our clients with vouchers to use at farmers markets so they can serve their families those ‘fresh from the garden’ vegetables.”

Regular supplemental WIC foods are provided throughout the year and can be used at approved locations for specific foods determined by the WIC program. The Farmer’s Market vouchers are special for the summer and provide extra produce while the farmers markets are open. 

WIC is actually a federal program called the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, but everyone just calls it WIC. It provides nutrition education, breastfeeding support, healthy supplemental foods, and health referrals for pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children under age five.

For more information about signing up for WIC benefits in Garrett County call the WIC Program at the Garrett County Health Department at 301-334-7710.