From left, Rev. Luke Foder, rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and Nick Weith, food access manager at the church. It’s all about going green and building community around food for the duo.

The Jamestown Public Market will be below freezing for the next few months.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church received a three-year grant that will extend the Farmer’s Market program into the winter months, providing a nearly year-long experience.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, located at 410 N. Main St., held its first community winter market Saturday in the church’s Undercroft, with the indoor market continuing from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday for the rest of December.

The Rev. Luke Fodor said the market is funded, in part, by a grant the church received from the United States Department of Agriculture in the amount of $250,000.

“This funding helps us expand our food access programs,” he said. “It’s about building a community around the plate and the food. Something humans have been doing for thousands of years. In addition, this provides access to local products all year round.

Fodor said the expansion of the food access program not only benefits program users nutritionally, but it is also financially positive for the entire city.

“By buying local, we keep our money local and put it right back into the city,” he said. “Keeping dollars local is another goal of the program.

Just like the Double Up Food Bucks program, where a person spending one dollar can receive a dollar credit, increasing their purchasing power. This New York State funded program is capped at $20 in matching funds.

However, St. Luke’s offers an even more lucrative program.

“For every $50 spent at the market, a qualified shopper, such as a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participant, can receive a matching credit of up to $50,” he said. declared. That means that $50 in purchases turns into $100 worth of market produce – which is generally healthier, satisfying, and better for you.

The Farmers’ Market Promotion Program grant is an opportunity to expand the Jamestown Public Market into the winter months, according to Nick Weith, St. Luke’s food access manager and Jamestown Public Market supervisor. .

“These expanded programs will provide local farmers with continued and increased opportunities to connect with the Jamestown and Chautauqua County community. We have already started talking to farmers about their growing plans for next year so that they can continuously sell at the winter market and under our Community Supported Agriculture program. “, he said.

Weith said the community benefits from increased access to local, healthy foods throughout the year.

Additionally, “the marketplace is authorized to accept SNAP/EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) and employee benefits and is enrolled in dual programs that match up to $50 per marketplace. This means that people who need access to healthy foods the most can really maximize their budget, making market and local shopping much more affordable than at a big box grocery store,” he said .

For more information, contact the church at 716-483-6405 or email [email protected]