The Knox County Health Department (KCHD) is partnering with Nourish Knoxville to host their first Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Fair Friday, March 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the KCHD Community Room, 140 Dameron Ave.

“By creating another opportunity for our community to meet its local farmers and purchase their produce, we’re not only increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables, we’re also helping the local economy by supporting our farmers,” said KCHD Program Manager Fiona McAnally.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet more than 10 local farmers and learn about their CSA programs, which provide a way for consumers to buy local, seasonal produce directly from a farmer. The participating farms include Abbey Fields Farm, Care of the Earth Community Farm, Colvin Family Farm, Crooked Road Farm, Garden Delivery CSA, J.E.M. Organic Farm, Lacewing Farms, Mountain Meadows Farm, So. Kno Food Co-op Neighborhood Inc., Spring Creek Farm, Terraced Gardens Farm and others. Several of the participating farms accept SNAP/EBT benefits for their CSA programs. More information is available by contacting KCHD Public Health Educator Katheryne Nix at Katheryne.nix@knoxcounty.org or 865-215-5170.

Access to healthy foods was one of the health priorities outlined in KCHD’s 2014/2014 Community Health Assessment. Eating more fruits and vegetables can not only help with weight management, but it can also lower the risk of developing many chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease and others. KCHD hopes to improve the health of those living and working in Knox County and the region, in part, by increasing access to healthy, affordable foods.