Have You Heard the Buzz About the Power of Produce Club?
By, Oliva Swanson and Rebecca Williams, AmeriCorps Vista Volunteers Attendees of the June 26th Saranac Lake Farmers’ Market likely ran into excited children buzzing around the market like the bumblebee puppets on their fingers. It was the first day the Power of Produce Club was at the market, and the theme was pollination. Families with youngsters stopped by the CCE Essex tent where they engaged in pollination demos, took a stab at “pollinating” flowers themselves, made their own bee, and could even have their faces painted! Despite the rain, about two dozen children came out and engaged in the pollinator lessons and signed up for the POP Club. They received their market passports and $5 to spend and many made their rounds and hurried back carrying their produce purchases proudly. With strawberry-juice-stained faces, they filled out their passports recording what they bought, tasted, and did. The first week of POP was a success!
The Power of Produce (POP) Club is a weekly kids program run by CCE Essex at the Lake Placid and Saranac Lake farmers’ markets. The goal of the club is to engage kids with fun activities while also teaching them about local food, science, and agriculture. Ultimately, we hope kids leave excited about produce and open to trying new foods, as well as with a sense of appreciation for where food comes from. Already in the two weeks that we’ve hosted the POP Club, children have shown excitement about vegetables and have even purchased radishes, salad turnips, and onions with their five dollars. Nothing could beat the sight at the Lake Placid market of two young brothers strolling about the market with carrot and bell pepper hats atop their heads. “Make sure the farmers don’t try to pick you” I joked as I handed them their $5 to spend. They returned with big smiles, costumes still on, and greens in their hands.
In the following weeks, we hope to see returning faces eager to try new foods, learn new lessons, and engage in the fun activities we have planned. Already we’ve been encouraged by three sisters who visited us at the Lake Placid market after attending the Saranac Lake market just a few days prior. Apparently, they begged their parents to be able to come, and they ran up to our table at the start of the market, their passports waving in their hands. “We could stay here all day!” the oldest sister exclaimed. To be able to foster such enthusiasm so early is amazing and we can’t wait to see what fun the rest of the market season brings!
Join the Power of Produce Club!
Every week, anytime during market hours at:
Lake Placid Farmers’ Market: Wednesday’s 10am-2pm, at the Green Goddess Parking Lot
Saranac Lake Farmers’ Market: Saturday’s 9am-1pm, at Riverside Park
Follow the weekly activities on the CCE Essex Facebook page.
