KY- Pilot program at Nulu farmer’s market provides free produce to pregnant women on Medicaid

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[MM Curator Summary]: KY launched a new program that gets pregnant mommas $24 a week worth of healthier food for a year.

 
 

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Updated: 9:43 AM EDT Jun 21, 2022

 
 

A new program funded by the federal government aims to provide fresh produce for free to expecting mothers on Medicaid.With two growing kids, Sidney Ross knows the importance of having fresh fruits and veggies at her home. “Microgreens, which I really love microgreens, we got sweet potatoes and radishes today,” Ross said.This expectant mother is getting the produce she needs for her growing family thanks to a new program at the Phoenix Hill NuLu Farmer’s Market. The pilot program called the Fresh RX for mom allows pregnant women on Medicaid to get free produce worth up to $24 a week for 12 weeks. “I think the program is really awesome because it gives everybody an opportunity to receive healthy good vs unhealthy stuff,” Ross told WLKY.”The RX kind of emphasizes a prescription for healthy fruits and vegetables for pregnancy,” said Susan Borders, a Dietician with the program.It’s funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Community Farm Alliance of Kentucky. “Pregnancy is a particularly vulnerable time for nutrition, good nutrition is very important,” Borders said.The sign-up process, which you can do in person at the market, takes less than 10 minutes. Each woman is given tokens to pay the farmers, who benefit also because their product gets sold. Michelle Lesher is a former nurse and dietician turned farmer who takes pride in what she grows.”When food is more ripe and ready to eat and picked, it’s going to have higher nutrition and it’s going to taste better,” Lesher said.But what puts a smile on her face even more is who her vegetables and fruit help. It’s why she wants this program to be as successful as possible.”Maybe there are some moms out there a little intimidated about eating more veggies, maybe intimidated by coming to farmer’s markets in general, so I would just encourage you to make this be the little push,” Lesher said.A push that Ross says she plans on giving to other mothers she knows.”I have already let people know and I’ve even invited people to let them know I’ll be there at this time, so meet me there that way I can take advantage of it,” Ross said.If you fit the criteria or you may know someone that does, go to the Phoenix Hill NuLu Farmer’s Market at 1007 E. Jefferson St. They are open only on Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

A new program funded by the federal government aims to provide fresh produce for free to expecting mothers on Medicaid.

With two growing kids, Sidney Ross knows the importance of having fresh fruits and veggies at her home.

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“Microgreens, which I really love microgreens, we got sweet potatoes and radishes today,” Ross said.

This expectant mother is getting the produce she needs for her growing family thanks to a new program at the Phoenix Hill NuLu Farmer’s Market.

The pilot program called the Fresh RX for mom allows pregnant women on Medicaid to get free produce worth up to $24 a week for 12 weeks.

“I think the program is really awesome because it gives everybody an opportunity to receive healthy good vs unhealthy stuff,” Ross told WLKY.

“The RX kind of emphasizes a prescription for healthy fruits and vegetables for pregnancy,” said Susan Borders, a Dietician with the program.

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It’s funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Community Farm Alliance of Kentucky.

“Pregnancy is a particularly vulnerable time for nutrition, good nutrition is very important,” Borders said.

The sign-up process, which you can do in person at the market, takes less than 10 minutes.

Each woman is given tokens to pay the farmers, who benefit also because their product gets sold. Michelle Lesher is a former nurse and dietician turned farmer who takes pride in what she grows.

“When food is more ripe and ready to eat and picked, it’s going to have higher nutrition and it’s going to taste better,” Lesher said.

But what puts a smile on her face even more is who her vegetables and fruit help. It’s why she wants this program to be as successful as possible.

“Maybe there are some moms out there a little intimidated about eating more veggies, maybe intimidated by coming to farmer’s markets in general, so I would just encourage you to make this be the little push,” Lesher said.

A push that Ross says she plans on giving to other mothers she knows.

“I have already let people know and I’ve even invited people to let them know I’ll be there at this time, so meet me there that way I can take advantage of it,” Ross said.

If you fit the criteria or you may know someone that does, go to the Phoenix Hill NuLu Farmer’s Market at 1007 E. Jefferson St. They are open only on Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

 
 

Clipped from: https://www.wlky.com/article/pilot-program-at-nulu-farmers-market-provides-free-produce-to-pregnant-women-on-medicaid/40302471#