Wayne County Cooperative Extension to apply for USDA farmers market promotion grant to add demonstration kitchen

The Wayne County Board of Commissioners placed on the consent agenda a motion permitting the Wayne County Cooperative Extension Office to apply for a U.S. Department of Agriculture Farmers Market Promotion Program grant to support a farmers-market-based meal-kit and demonstration kitchen program.

Program details: Extension staff described plans to use grant funds to support a kitchen program where a local vendor, Michelle Estrada, would prepare “Tasty Fridays” demonstrations and produce meal kits that contain ingredients sourced from the farmers market. Staff said grant activities could include: a portable kitchen solution with sink, or modifying an existing storage room at the market (pushing a wall back) to create a small fixed kitchen without taking vendor stall space. Extension staff said the program would be built to involve multiple market vendors and to promote nutrition and vendor sales.

Grant size and timeline: Staff stated the Farmers Market Promotion Program award could be up to $250,000 spread over three years. Extension staff said the application is for permission to apply and that much of the in-kind contribution would be based on use of the farmers market space and staff time.

Board response: Commissioners voiced support. The consent agenda item was approved as part of the consent package.

Next steps: Extension staff will proceed with the application process and return to the board with grant details and any required approvals for expenditures if the grant is awarded.