WIC Clients and Seniors, We’re Now FMNP Authorized!

Great news! The Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market has now been approved to take part in the federal Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) administered by the Washington State Department of Health​. The FMNP vouchers allow seniors and WIC clients greater access to the healthy, locally grown fruit and veggies that our vendors offer.

This approval is something we’ve been seeking ever since the market launched mid-season in 2013, and a big thanks goes out to Catholic Charities Spokane​ and the Spokane Regional Health District​ for working so diligently on our behalf during the application process. Along with accepting EBT as payment, FMNP authorization is a big part of our mission to increase food access in Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood​ and Spokane at large.

To find out if you qualify for FMNP vouchers in Spokane, visit your local WIC office. This short FAQ blurb has a little more info.

General info on FMNP in Washington is here. Our fruit and veggie vendors who aren’t yet FMNP authorized are encouraged to follow that link and apply (it’s free!) for authorization to accept the vouchers.

Market Poster Contest 2015

The Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market is holding its second annual poster contest for students in neighborhood schools. This year the schools that have been invited to take part are Trinity Catholic School and Spokane Public Montessori.

Students in grades 1–6 at these schools are asked to design a poster for the upcoming 2015 market season.

The poster should:

  • be in color on white 8.5″ x 11″ (US letter sized) paper; portrait or landscape style are both acceptable
  • contain the title: Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market — please make sure it’s properly spelled and punctuated!
  • illustrate the theme “neighborhood farmers market

The deadline is Friday, May 8. Two winning entries — one from each school — will be selected and announced by Monday, May 11. Students are asked to submit only one (1) entry per individual.

The winning entries will printed as posters and flyers. They will be hung throughout the neighborhood and around Spokane prior to and during the 2015 market season to help promote the market. They will also be posted on Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood’s blog, Twitter and Facebook accounts.

The two winners and their parent(s) or guardian will be asked to be present at the opening market on Friday, June 5 to be acknowledged in person. They will each receive a similar amount ($15 each) of tokens to be spent at the market.

More info about the Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market is available here on this website or on our Facebook page.

Trinity and Montessori students, please check with your respective school office to see where you should submit your entries. We look forward to seeing what you create!

Vendors for 2015

Here’s our list of full- and part-season vendors for 2015.

Jenkins Java will be selling gallons and half-gallons of milk from Spokane’s Family Farm. Petunia’s will be attending on odd-numbered market days and will have meat from Ramstead Ranch.

[*] Indicates a new vendor for this season.