Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is especially important for youth because it helps fuel their growing bodies and minds. Produce is packed with essential vitamins, minerals and fiber that support everything from strong bones and healthy skin to a sharp memory and a strong immune system. These nutrients are crucial during childhood and adolescence, a time of rapid growth and development.

That’s one reason why the West Valley Farmers Market, in conjunction with USU Extension, is running its Power of Produce Kids Program again this summer. Organizers know that in addition to supporting physical health, eating a variety of fruits and vegetables helps maintain a healthy weight and good digestion. It also builds healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime, and fresh produce is one of the best ways for young people to stay energized, focused and thriving.

“Our program uses a variety of fun exercises and activities to get kids involved with the farmers market,” said Laura Streeter from USU Extension. “The idea really is just to get them used to eating vegetables and introducing the kids to healthy foods, healthy lifestyle activities.”

Each Thursday during the farmers market, Power of Produce has a theme for the week. Upcoming in August and running through Oct. 9 are such events as Wonderful Worms, Movement Menu on Strength exercises, Plant Painting, a Scavenger Hunt, Stop Light Snacks, Scentsational Play, Movement Menu on Agility, Smarty Pants Salad, Growing Frankengrass and Goofy Gratitude. Kids can earn wooden $1 tokens that can be spent with food vendors at the market—up to $2 a week.

“Last year, I made jars with worms in them, and the kids love those, so we're going to bring those back again on Aug. 7,” Streeter said. “Our emphasis is just all about growing food, or tasting food, or moving their body, anything related to healthy lifestyles.”

She said the scavenger hunt on Aug. 28 will have kids look for a list of things in the market, getting them to interact with vendors and ask questions. And the Smarty Pants salad on Sept. 25 will focus on “the six parts of a plant that they can eat, like seeds. So last year, we brought some corn, the root, we brought some carrots, the stock, we brought some celery. We identified all these different parts that we can eat. And so I got the idea to put all six parts into a salad, and it incorporates everything all together. It’s a lot of fun.”

So far, this year’s program is going well. On opening night, 52 youth participated. Streeter said that translated into $104 in the hands of young people to spend at the market that night, so sometime during the run of the farmers market through the season that ends Oct. 9. 

Because Utah State University is the land grant university for the state, every county has a USU Extension Office. In Salt Lake County, it’s on the corner of 2100 South and State Street, on the first floor of the south government building.

“Most people know about the extension because they're familiar with programs like master gardener or the 4H program, which are all run by extension,” Streeter said. “My program is called Create Better Health, and we teach nutrition and healthy lifestyle habits. Extension is just a way for the university education to just reach out to the community to give back.”

Power of Produce runs each Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the market in West Valley City’s Centennial Park.

Vendors show their farm to fork products at the West Valley Farmers Market each Thursday night. (Tom Haraldsen/City Journals)