By Andi Anderson
This summer, the Power of Produce (PoP) Club transformed the Lincoln Park farmers market in Clinton County into a vibrant hub of learning, health, and community engagement.
The program invited children aged 4 to 12 to join a summer-long journey toward healthier eating habits. Each participant received a free $2 token weekly to spend on fruits, vegetables, plants, or farm-fresh eggs.
By the end of the season, 213 children had joined, taking home hundreds of fresh items, including cucumbers, berries, melons, and sweet corn.
Every Thursday evening, the PoP booth came alive with games and hands-on learning, connecting kids and families directly with the farmers who grew their food.
“Watching kids choose their own food was one highlight of my summer,” said Allie Cannon, agriculture and natural resources program coordinator for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Clinton County. “We weren’t just playing games. Kiddos were asking questions and building trust with local growers, fueling our local economy and sense of community.”
The program’s creative themes included fruit-and-veggie bingo, salsa scavenger hunts, and smoothie-making on a blender bike — fun ways to promote nutrition.
Market co-manager Brenda Ernzen noted that families stayed longer and supported more vendors because of the booth’s energy and activities.
Originating in Oregon, the PoP Club model was expanded through the University of Minnesota’s PoP Toolkit and supported locally by the CDC-funded Iowa LEAP initiative.
LEAP works across six Iowa counties to expand fruit and vegetable voucher programs in areas with high obesity rates.
Allie Taiber, LEAP program specialist, highlighted its long-term impact. “When kids lead the shopping, it helps families to try new foods. Vendors gain loyal customers, and local market economies grow stronger,” she said.
With strong partnerships and community spirit, the PoP Club demonstrated how small incentives can create big change — building healthier families and stronger local food systems one child and one token at a time.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-brzozowska
Categories: Iowa, Rural Lifestyle