Suad and Haydar are farmers market regulars who usually shop as a mother and son team. Haydar shops for his family, including his wife and three children, ages eight, seven, and six months. Suad lives with her other son, his wife, and their three children, ages five, three, and one. With six children in the extended family, the produce purchased with HIP goes a long way toward helping them to supplement their food budget and keeping fresh produce into their family meals.
Suad moved to Worcester from Baghdad seven years ago and has been shopping at the Regional Environmental Council farmers markets for four years. She loves the radishes, apples, carrots, and lettuce and uses the local produce to make traditional Iraqi dishes. When asked about her experience with HIP, she says, “It provides us with so much help. We like this program because for older people like me and families with small children, the food stamps are not enough. It’s a long month. We need fresh fruits and vegetables.” She especially likes being able to buy from local farmers, noting that “the taste is so much better!”
Haydar joined his family in Worcester two years ago and shares cooking responsibility with his wife. They prepare a variety of Middle Eastern foods, using recipes from Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. Haydar’s children enjoy the produce purchased through HIP, especially apples and cherry tomatoes. Haydar also highlights the superior quality of locally grown produce, saying “We can tell the difference of food that is grown close to home by the taste.” Haydar also appreciates the opportunity to support local farmers. “We know we are helping the farmers as well. We support local farmers and businesses. If people don’t support farmers, they won’t be able to stay in business and that will affect the whole community. We like to be able to support them.”
For more information about HIP, and the Campaign for HIP Funding, click here.
Thanks to the Regional Environmental Council for writing these stories.
