Buckeye Fresh!
Access to healthy, affordable food remains a challenge for many people in our communities. Buckeye Fresh! events at local farmers’ markets give our members access to nutritious food that can have a lasting impact on health.
2025 Buckeye Fresh! Dates*
June 14: Haymaker Farmers’ Market (Kent)
June 21: Toledo Farmers’ Market
June 29: Kamm’s Corner Farmers Market (Cleveland)
July 12: Haymaker Farmers’ Market (Kent)
July 19: Toledo Farmers’ Market
August 9: North Union Farmers Market Shaker Square (Cleveland)
August 23: Toledo Farmers’ Market
September 20: North Union Farmers Market Shaker Square (Cleveland)
September 21: Kamm’s Corner Farmers Market (Cleveland)
* Dates are subject to change.
Buckeye members get free produce at the market
Buckeye members attending the market on Buckeye Fresh! Days get a $15 voucher to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, and children of members will receive a free $1 Buckeye Buck to purchase a healthy snack, too. Stop by the Buckeye tent and show your Buckeye membership card or I.D. to get your vouchers and other resources.
Food Access Partnerships
As food insecurity continues to impact many Ohioans, Buckeye is raising awareness of food assistance programs to support families:
- The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps Ohio families by supplementing their budget to purchase healthy food. The program was formerly known as food stamps. Learn more about SNAP.
- The Produce Perks SNAP/EBT Match program provides a $25 match on SNAP/EBT purchases. This means that any amount spent with SNAP/EBT, up to $25, will be matched $1-for-$1. Produce Perks matching dollars can be spent on fruits and vegetables. Learn more.
- The Fruit and Vegetable Coupon Program helps make produce more affordable for Ohio families. Eligible families receive a Fruit and Vegetable Coupon booklet worth $140 (each booklet contains 28 $5 coupons) – redeemable at participating locations. Learn more about the program.
Eating the right amount of fruits and vegetables can help you get healthy, stay healthy and live longer. Here are some easy tips to help you add fruits and vegetables to your daily diet:
- Switch out high salt and sugary snacks for a serving of fruit or vegetables
- Buy fresh fruits and vegetables in-season when they’re cheaper
- Look for lower priced “ugly” fruits and vegetables that are imperfect in appearance, but still nutritious
- Remember that canned fruit and vegetables are nutritious, too. Buy canned vegetables in water with low salt and canned fruits in water, not syrup
- Get low or no-sugar fruit cups for an easy way to get kids to eat fruit all year
- Try a frozen vegetable mix to add variety
- Pair fruit and vegetables with other favorite food items, like bananas with peanut butter, apples with cheese or blueberries with oatmeal
An apple a day may not be enough to keep the doctor away. A global study found that not eating enough healthy foods led to more deaths around the world than any other risk factor, including smoking and high blood pressure.2 The study also linked one in five deaths to poor diets — those short in fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts and heavy in salt — contributing to heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
This global impact hits close to home. 10.6 percent of Ohio adults eat the recommended amount of fruit and 6.9 percent eat the recommended amount of vegetables.3 Plus, obesity continues to be on the rise, with Ohio ranking 11th nationwide for highest adult obesity and 16th for highest obesity for youth ages 10 to 17.
Including more fruits and vegetables in your meals every day can make a big difference in your life now and for years to come. Buckeye members can contact Buckeye Member Services for help finding local resources for healthy food: 866-549-8289.4
These recipes are from The Ohio State University Extension SNAP-Ed program, a Buckeye Fresh! partner. Find nutrition information and more tasty recipes and videos at CelebrateYourPlate.org.