Updated May 18, 2022 - Cleveland, OH — Food Access Raises Everyone (FARE) will be at the West Side Market in the Market Arcade on Sunday, May 22 from 10 AM until 2 PM to distribute an additional 120 coupon booklets worth $75 each to eligible families who have not already received a coupon booklet. Coupons will be distributed on a first--come-first-serve basis and can be used like cash to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. Produce Perks coupons will be redeemable at the West Side Market until June 30, 2022.
FARE distributed over $25,000 worth of Produce Perks to 136 eligible families at the West Side Market on May 12, 2022. The funding for the Produce Perks Pilot was increased through a generous grant from the Mt. Sinai Health Foundation to FARE.
Coupons can be spent with the following vendors:
- A-1 Quality Produce
- A & J Produce
- Angelo Produce
- Boutros Brother Produce
- Christiano Produce
- Ehab Produce
- Greg's Produce
- Habib's Produce
- Harb's Produce
- Lucas Produce
- Luca's Produce
- Miriam's Produce
- Vegetable Produce
Wednesday, April 13, 2022 - Cleveland, OH — Starting on April 15, Food Access Raises Everyone (FARE) will launch the Produce Perks Pilot in partnership with the City of Cleveland and Produce Perks Midwest to increase access to fresh, healthy food for Cleveland residents and support vendors at the West Side Market.
The Produce Perks Pilot will provide TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) eligible families $240 in free fruit and vegetable coupons to spend at participating produce vendors at the West Side Market on or before June 30, 2022.
“We are excited to bring the Produce Perks pilot to the West Side Market and expand access to nutritious fruits and vegetables at no cost to families,” said Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “Increasing food access programs is a priority for my administration and we are grateful to FARE, Produce Perks Midwest and the participating vendors for making this initiative possible.”
FARE will be on-site at the West Side Market regularly to assess eligibility and distribute coupon booklets. Specific dates to obtain coupons with FARE will be announced on the West Side Market social media channels. Coupons will be redeemable until June 30, 2022 only at the West Side Market.
All produce vendors at the West Side Market will have the opportunity to participate. Participating vendors will display signage indicating that coupons can be used with that vendor. As of today, the following vendors have signed up to participate:
- A-1 Quality Produce
- A & J Produce
- Angelo Produce
- Boutros Brother Produce
- Christiano Produce
- Ehab Produce
- Greg's Produce
- Habib's Produce
- Harb's Produce
- Lucas Produce
- Luca's Produce
“I'm glad we will be able to provide produce to families in need and I hope this program will help people see how the West Side Market can be a part of their daily shopping habit," said Tom Boutros, owner of Boutros Brothers Produce.
West Side Market customers who participate in the program will be eligible to redeem coupons for fresh fruits and vegetables that have no added salts, fats, or sugars. No change may be given nor cash exchanged for fruit and vegetable coupons. Vendors will be reimbursed by FARE regularly for the value of the coupons.
The Produce Perks Pilot will be supported through a state allocation of TANF funding, a federal program administered through the State of Ohio's Department of Job and Family Services. TANF has established eligibility requirements that include that eligible households have a minors or pregnant woman in the house and meet income requirements based on federal poverty guidelines.
At the conclusion of the Produce Perks Pilot, FARE will develop a summary report on the Produce Perks Pilot including lessons learned and recommendations for future Produce Perks programming.
The FARE Project is a comprehensive initiative designed to connect and support grassroots organizations and community leaders engaging in healthy food access work in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.
Produce Perks Midwest is an Ohio nonprofit that pioneers solutions to address inequities within our food system. Our work increases affordable access to healthy food, supports local farmers and strengthens local economies – in our most under-served communities.
