Farmers Market Access by SNAP-eligible mothers of young children: Barriers and impact on nutrition education programming for Cooperative Extension

The study was designed to assess the perceived barriers to farmers market access and strategies for overcoming those barriers for low-income individuals and families participating in Cooperative Extension nutrition programming. Data collection included a survey of SNAP-Ed and EFNEP program assistants, focus group discussion and a photo elicitation study with mothers of young children. Results from these studies provide insight on how to structure program assistant trainings to encourage the inclusion of an optional farmers market orientation lesson in SNAP-Ed and EFNEP curricula; low-income individuals perception of healthy food, access to and perception of local foods, benefits and barriers to shopping at farmer's markets, and the impact of local foods on diet quality. Working with farmers markets is an opportunity to form greater synergy between Extension programs while forming collaborative relationships with local farmers markets and community members.