Healthy Oklahoma Communities:

Helping Families Thrive Through Better Food Access & Active Living

 

At OSU Extension’s Community Health Program, we work with towns across Oklahoma to:

 

• Increase access to fresh, affordable food
• Create safe places to walk, bike, and play
• Support residents in living healthier lives

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Food Access: Fresh, Local, and Affordable

We help families get more fruits and vegetables by connecting them to programs such as:

 

1. Double Up Oklahoma (DUO), Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP).
   • Double Up Oklahoma: matches the value (up to $20 per day) of SNAP dollars spent at participating farmers markets and grocery stores. Learn more: Double Up Oklahoma
   • Senior Farmers’ Market Program (SFMNP) : Provides low-income seniors with a onetime $50 EBT card to purchase locally grown produce, honey, and fresh-cut herbs at participating farmers’ markets across Oklahoma. Learn more: Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program
2. Past Mobile Farmers Markets
   • Head Start on Nutrition Mobile Markets: Mobile markets serving Head Start Programs in Muskogee County.
   • Orange Power - School Mobile Markets: Conducted at small rural schools in Adair County.
   • EODD Senior Mobile Markets[LP1] : Serving senior populations in Muskogee and Adair counties
     • In 2022, the market traveled to Haskell, Porum, Taft, Boynton, Warner, Stilwell & Westville
     • In 2023, the market traveled to Haskell, Porum, Webbers Falls, Taft, Warner, Porum, Stillwell & Westville.
     • Distributed 3.4 tons of food! – 6,512lb.
     • Nearly $14,000 in market bucks redeemed 
       
       
3.  Farm to Early Childcare (ECE) & School Programs
   • “HeadStart on Nutrition” Mobile Markets:  Since 2021 we have secured funding from the Muskogee Medical Foundation to bring fresh, local produce to Head Start families through mobile farmers' markets. These pop-up markets visit three Head Start locations in Muskogee—JBR, Shawnee, and Youth Central.
     • Each family receives $15 in "veggie bucks" to shop for fruits and vegetables grown by local farmers. Our partner, Healthy Oklahomans Nutrition Alliance, works with farmers across Oklahoma to supply the produce.
     • This program not only helps families access fresh, healthy food but also supports small farms and strengthens the local economy. In 2023, the markets ran from May to August and provided around 1,600 pounds of fresh produce. In 2024, we expanded our efforts and distributed 2,187 pounds of produce to families in need. 
   • Supported site garden implementation at schools & daycares to teach kids where food comes from.