News form BC's Fresh Choice Newsletter-

PROVINCIAL INITIATIVES - Food Skills For Families
B.C.'s freshest food-skills program invites cooking groups across the province to
take up an unbeatable offer: a six-session free cooking school that comes to your
kitchen. The program is called Food Skills For Families, and it was created
particularly for cooking groups that serve Aboriginal, Punjabi, new immigrant and
low-income communities. All the cooking group has to supply is a properly equipped
kitchen and 8 to 12 participants who agree to attend all six sessions. All the other
essentials come free of charge: the guidance of a trained facilitator with cooking
and nutrition expertise, the food to be cooked, and workbooks for all that include
recipes targeted for specific groups. The six hands-on kitchen sessions cover
healthy food choices, safe food handling and storage, meal planning, healthy snacks,
nutrition education and a shopping tour. There's plenty of time for questions and
answers. Food Skills for Families has just been launched. It is funded through the
Canadian Diabetes Association by the BC Healthy Living Alliance.

The Food Skills For Families Program has experienced a very successful response from
communities across the province. The Canadian Diabetes Association has reached its'
initial capacity for program delivery within the first two months of promotion and
is currently seeking alternative funding to continue delivering the Food Skills For
Families program. If you would like your organization to be placed on a wait list to
have the program delivered to you, please contact:
Diane Collis, cooking@foodbank.bc.ca , Tel:
604-876-0659 ext 118

BC Farmers' Market Nutrition Coupon Project

The BC Association of Farmers' Markets (BCAFM) is pleased to announce the 2008
Farmers' Market Nutrition Coupon Project. Building on the success of the 2007
pilot project, the Nutrition Coupon Project has expanded to 10 communities for the
2008 season. The increase in participating Markets and Cooking & Skill Building
programs will increase access to fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits and
vegetables to low-income pregnant women and families with children. The Cooking &
Skill Building (CSB) programs also expand the awareness, use of and sales of BCAFM
member farmers' markets.

2008 Participating Markets & CSB Programs

Abbotsford

-Abbotsford Farm & Country Market
-Best for Babies Program

Kelowna

-Kelowna Farmers' Market
-Bridge Youth & Family Services

Coquitlam

-Coquitlam Farmers' Market
-Healthy Babies Program

Prince George

-Prince George Farmers' Market
-Northern Family Health Society

Courtenay

-Comox Valley Farmers Market
-Comox Valley Family Services
-LUSH Valley Food Action Society

Smithers

-Bulkley Valley Farmers' Market
-Smithers Pregnancy Outreach Program

Gibsons

-Fiddlehead Farmers Market
-Bellies & Babies
-Public Health-Gibsons

Victoria

-Moss Street Market
-Victoria Native Friendship Centre
Kamloops

-Kamloops Regional Farmers' Market Society
-Interior Community Services

Vancouver

-Your Local Farmers' Market Society (East Vancouver, West End, West Side, Riley Park)
-Collingwood Neighbourhood House
-Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House
-Hastings Community Centre