Editor's Note: During Washtenaw County's Planning Process to create the 2008/2009 budget, we will invest time in telling your stories of community impact: how County services and service collaborations make a positive difference in our community.  For more information, and to become involved in this important Process, please see the dedicated web site.

How do you eat healthy food when you live in a “food desert”?

A community food assessment, conducted by the Ypsilanti Health Coalition (YHC) in 2005 in the  Ypsilanti area, south of Michigan Avenue, produced convincing data that documented the absence of local area stores where residents could conveniently purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. The findings demonstrated that people, particularly in the Southside area of Ypsilanti, are very aware of their lack of food choices, and strongly desire more sources for healthy food. A phrase was coined that stuck: the area is a “food desert”.

It is well documented that plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in a diet can help protect against heart disease, diabetes, and some common cancers. Washtenaw County Public Health, working in conjunction with strong community partners like YHC, Growing Hope, Washtenaw County MSU Extension have helped this situation through a Washtenaw Steps Up grant from the Michigan Department of Community Health. Due to this extraordinary collaboration, local residents now have the new downtown Ypsilanti Farmers Market and a brand new resource for fresh, healthy foods.

The market, open Tuesdays from 2:00 - 6:00 pm, May through October, is located in the Key Bank Parking Lot, at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Hamilton, and convenient for senior citizen residents across the street. In its very first year of operation the new market was visited more than 5,300 times, generating $23,000 of gross sales for local farmers and crafters. Approximately twenty local vendors set up and provide locally grown produce selections, prepared goods and crafts, as well as booths on nutrition education, healthy eating and preparing fresh produce.  ( See the flyer for the 2007 Farmers Market!)

Seniors in Ypsilanti and low income residents receive nutrition education and may be eligible to receive coupon books to make purchases at the market. PROJECT FRESH, another partnership among Washtenaw County, WIC and MSU Extension, provides these discounted coupon books to low income seniors to help buy fresh Michigan-grown produce.

For more information on these and other exciting community nutrition initiatives, please contact Washtenaw County’s Health Promotion Supervisor Jenna Bacolor.