The Catskill Chronicle

MONTICELLO, NY (July 1, 2013) — Catskill Mountainkeeper, Sullivan County Public Health Services, Rural Health Network (RHN), and Cornell Cooperative Extension are kicking off its second year of a successful pilot project on Monday, July 1, in an effort to increase access to healthy foods for low income county residents.

The project’s goal is to build and sustain momentum for an annual Farmers Market in Monticello that accepts Farmers Market Coupons issued during the summer and fall months to WIC eligible families, and to seniors through the Office for the Aging.

The Farmers Market will be held every other Monday throughout the summer from July 1 through October 28 from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. in the parking lot of the Village of Monticello next to the Ted Stroeble Center on 2 Jefferson Street.

Permission has been granted by the Village of Monticello to allow the FMNP-approved farmers to set up their tents and produce to accept these coupons. The farmers will be selling fruits and vegetables and assorted goods.

Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Eat Smart NY staff will be available to provide recipes and taste tests to encourage families to try a new fruit or vegetable they may not be familiar with, and to promote healthy eating.

The market is open to the general public and will be managed by Catskill Mountainkeeper.

This collaborative project is one of the many efforts of the County’s RHN Wellness Committee to improve the health status of its residents.