The city of Williams Lake is sounding their support for the BC Farmer's Market Nutrition Coupon Program.
At their regular meeting on Feb. 18, 2025, city council discussed an update from the BC Association of Farmers' Markets (BCAFM) which shared some of the impacts of the program, which provides coupons to local social services and organizations who can then give them to people in need to access locally produced food at farmers markets.
According to the report from the BCAFM, in Williams Lake in 2024, the Cariboo Chilcotin Child Development Centre Association, Cariboo Friendship Society and Women's Contact Society, all gave out coupons to clients. Targeted clientele included lower-income pregnant people, families with children and seniors/elders, helping these people purchase fruits, vegetables, cheese, eggs, nuts, fish, meat, herbs and honey directly from local producers at the farmer's market.
An estimated $21,891 in coupons were redeemed in Williams Lake at the Cariboo Direct Farm Market by over 49 lower-income households. The program also supports farmers, according to the letter from the BCAFM board of directors.
The letter and update from Wylie Bystedt, the BCAFM board chair, and Heather O'Hara, BCAFM executive director, requested the city write a letter in support of the program in order to help the organization secure funding for the 2025 program season.
"I think it's great for us to support this initiative," said Coun. Joan Flaspohler, noting prior to this letter from the BCAFM, she wasn't really aware of the program's impacts.
"I think this is just amazing and I'm glad that it's happening here."
Mayor Surinderpal Rathor noted supporting the program fits in perfectly with a motion at the previous Feb. 4 regular council meeting for the city to support shopping local and Canadian producers.
"We are standing with our Team Canada," said Rathor.
The council voted unanimously in favour of supporting the program.
