BMC HealthNet Plan has provided $400 in Fall River Farmers' Market tokens for physicians to give to patients as a way to encourage them to purchase more fresh fruits and vegetables. Tokens are being "prescribed" to patients at the HealthFirst Family Care Center and at the SSTAR Family Care Center until they run out. "We see this as a way to get patients to consider eating a healthier diet," noted BMC promotional director Kelly Nevins. The idea was recently begun in the Boston Area as a way to address childhood obesity and is being distributed primarily to parents of children through the two clinics. Farmers' markets are available at Kennedy Park on Saturday mornings, at Ruggles Park on Wednesdays, and on Old Second Street on Thursday afternoons. For more information, contact Healthy City Market Coordinator Kristen Gunderson at 508-324-7900.

(Top row, left) Dr. Uma Kolli hands some tokens to a patient at the HeatlhFirst Family Care Center. (Top row, right) Dr. Brian Cilley hands a Farmers' Market token to a patient at the SSTAR Family Health Care Center as part of her "prescription." (Middle row) Farmers' Market Coordinator Kristen Gunderson exchanges tokens that Maria Souza has received from customers for cash. (Bottom row, left) Kristi Price from K&W farms turns in her tokens. (Bottom row, center) Maria Coutinho of Coutinho Orchards in Berkley, MA, exchanges tokens. (Bottom row, right) The Barbozas are happy to accept tokens for any of their farm-fresh produce.