WVU Extension Family Nutrition Program has been providing support to SNAP farmers markets throughout the state over the last 2 years. Many markets have received signage to attract SNAP customers and educators are working with markets to offer educational activities, cooking demonstrations, tasting opportunities and even have obtained grant funding to offer Double SNAP dollars. Efforts to attract SNAP customers to the markets continues to be a struggle but the WVU Family Nutrition Program are expanding their media campaign to include television.
As part of a contract with WSAZ, a local news station, Family Nutrition Program administrators and educators are teaming up to talk about the programs and services available to low income audiences through SNAP-Ed. On June 20, SNAP Coordinator, Kristin McCartney and health educator Jennifer Spriggel, offered a segment on farmers markets to an audience of over 50,000. Â