Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) hosted Kids Corner Market, a series of free kids’ activities at Asheville City Market, for a second season this summer. Kids Corner Market connects families with local food and farms, and gives children positive experiences with healthy foods. This project is offered in partnership with different community organizations.

Some of the most popular activities from the past Kids Corner Market, such as scavenger hunts, food art, and a weekly raffle of children’s books were offered again this year. New groups such as Swannanoa 4-H, Buncombe County Cooperative Extension, and MANNA FoodBank lead new projects. In addition to organizing free activities, representatives of all of the organizations participating in the Kids Corner Market talked about the services they provide to the community.

“We hope that by welcoming families to the farmers market we’ll encourage more people shop locally and help provide environments in which children have access to fresh, healthy food,” says Emily Jackson of ASAP. At Asheville City Market, more than 70 vendors sell a diversity of local foods and hand- made crafts. In addition to kids’ activities, entertainment at the market includes live music and cooking demonstrations.

For more information, visit asapconnections.org, or call ASAP at 828.236.1282 or email emily@asapconnections.org.