MAHONING COUNTY Programs offer coupons for fruits and vegetables

YOUNGSTOWN -- Women, Infants and Children participants are eligible for coupons for Ohio-grown fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs now through Oct. 31.
The Mahoning-Youngstown Community Action Partnership along with the WIC and Farmers' Market Nutrition programs are offering the coupons, worth $18.
The coupons, not for use in regular grocery stores, can be redeemed at farmers markets that display a blue sign indicating they are accepted.
Participating Mahoning County farmers' markets are:
UWhite House Fruit Farm, 9249 Youngstown-Salem Road, Canfield; Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
UStahl's Farm Market, 10780 N. Johnson Road, North Benton; Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Anyone wishing to sign up for the WIC program or needing transportation to White House Fruit Farm may call (330) 747-5661.
Similar programs exist in Columbiana and Portage counties, but all the coupons have been distributed and no more are available. Trumbull County does not have a program because it has no farmers market organization, a WIC spokeswoman said.
The Farmers' Market Nutrition Program's "5-A-Day Fruits and Vegetables Program" is used to educate caregivers on the importance of five daily servings of fresh fruits and vegetables as a simple way to teach children good eating habits.
The goal of WIC Nutrition Education is to help all children achieve recommended rates of growth and development. WIC attempts to meet this goal by educating caregivers about offering highly nutritious foods, serving child-sized portions and increasing physical activity.