Listen to the broadcast version of this story, which aired on Kootenay Morning on June 10, 2026
By Jaime Frederick, Local Journalism Initiative
British Columbia’s Ministry of Health acknowledges its funding for the BC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program currently does not reach everyone who may benefit.
The ministry confirmed in a press release on Monday that it would continue funding the program this year, as it has since 2012, but its funding has not increased since 2024 despite both documented need and rising food and grocery prices that are helping to drive increases in the cost of living.
The program provides coupons to families, pregnant people and seniors living on lower incomes that help them to receive fresh food from participating Farmers’ Markets across BC. Last year, 8,200 households in approximately 94 communities benefited from the program, including many people in the West Kootenays.
However, despite the ministry committing $4.25 million dollars to the program again this year, there will likely be many low-income households unable to participate unless funding is increased.
The BC Association of Farmers Markets (BCAFM), which delivers the program with the support of community partners, noted in its 2025 Annual Report that “52 additional community partners applied to participate [last year] but could not be accepted due to limited resources.” The report also stated that there were 1,000 new names on the BCAFM’s waiting list in 2025, while community partners “reported over 3,600 additional households that wanted to participate but could not be served.”
In an e-mail, the Ministry of Health said that, “While the program has provided valuable support during the farmer’s market season, it currently does not reach everyone who may benefit.” They also said they are “working with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food to help inform future opportunities to reduce barriers to accessing nutritious food and strengthen domestic food systems.”
Neither BC’s Minister of Health, Josie Osborne, nor the Minister of Agriculture, Lana Popham, were available for comment by deadline.
As reported earlier, Nelson is one of the communities in which the program is running this year. More information and nutrition coupon program applications are available in Nelson through community organizations, including the Kootenay Kids Society, the Nelson and District Women’s Centre, the Nelson & District Seniors Coordinating Society and the Nelson Community Food Centre. Outside of Nelson, please visit the BC Farmers’ Market Association for more information.
