The Kid's Farmers Market Program is an interactive approach to improving the long-term health of low-income children in Santa Barbara County. Each month at sites countywide, the Kid's Farmers Market Program provides fresh produce and nutrition education to low-income children. The program encourages active, healthy living connecting low-income children with nutrition education and a reliable, year- round produce source. 



At the 2011 Feeding America Annual Summit, the Foodbank received the Program of the Year Award for the Kid's Farmer's Market Program. Out of 205 food banks and all of their programs, this award acknowledges the Foodbank for its innovative approach to ending childhood hunger.

The impact of the Kid's Farmers Market Program extends to provide free produce and education to children that have an unmet need for a reliable produce source and do not have the financial means to purchase produce on a consistent basis. In alignment with the knowledge that fruits and vegetables are critical to promoting good health, the Kid's Farmers Market Program combats health issues affecting low-income children such as diabetes and obesity through consistent distribution of produce and nutrition education.

Nutrition Education
The Kid's Farmers Market Program is an opportunity for the Foodbank to combat the prevalence of obesity and diabetes in the low-income population through nutritious foods and nutrition education. The nutrition education curriculum details how fruits and vegetables are grown, how they are cooked and used, nutrition value and importance; and include learning activities and recipes that promote fresh produce as an alternative to processed food.  As part of the curriculum, the Nutrition Educators, Assistants and children prepare and eat a nutritious recipe during each Kid's Farmers Market. The children are encouraged to participate in the food preparation activities, taste the seasonal produce and recipes, ask questions and take home educational materials to share with their families. At the conclusion of the nutrition education curriculum, the children gather the produce that they have selected at the start of the Kid's Farmers Market and the education materials to take home. 

Community Support
Made up of a core group of committed volunteers, the Foodbank’s Nutrition Educators and Assistants provide on-site educational resources that are supportive, age appropriate and interactive, all with the goal of providing tools to encourage long-term nutritious eating patterns and necessary skills to make healthy choices for a lifetime.  Each Kid's Farmers Market site requires two volunteers; a lead Nutrition Educator that administers the curriculum and a secondary individual that assists. All Nutrition Educators and Assistants are required to attend two orientation trainings before being sent out into the field. For more information on volunteering, please visit our volunteer page.