Farmers Get Free Admission to Olivette's HarvestFest ASAP Double Snap Benefit September 11

    ASHEVILLE, NC, July 27, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Farmers and their families are invited to a free festival of music and outdoor family fun Sept. 11 when Olivette Riverside Community and Farm holds its 1st Annual HarvestFest ASAP Double Snap Benefit.

A celebration of local farmers, community, and music, HarvestFest will be held at Olivette Riverside Pavilion, 1069 Olivette Road Asheville, NC 28804.

Doors open at 3 p.m. with family games and activities. Acclaimed Americana band The Barefoot Movement takes the stage at 4 p.m. All farmers and their families will be admitted free and treated to a VIF (Very Important Farmers) section. Kids will also be admitted free.

All ticket proceeds will go towards the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project's Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables program. Thanks to the generous support of Wicked Weed and Vidl Wine, all proceeds from beer and wine sales will also benefit Double SNAP. The program offers a match on dollars spent by SNAP customers at participating farmers markets with tokens that can be used for produce.

Many EBT shoppers say the program eases concerns over having enough food each month. "It has significantly reduced the stress of managing the little amount of money given per month for EBT," one shopper explained. "I can make choices that allow me to eat more vegetables and eggs than I could otherwise afford."

Farmers market managers and vendors also noted the benefits of the program, saying it leads to ongoing relationships with shoppers and allows them to grow their business with loyal customers. "It has not only increased my sales, it has allowed me to interact and build relationships with customers who would normally be outside my business's demographic," one vendor said. Another farmer said: "This investment quite literally nourishes the community for both the producer and consumer of farmers market produce!"

HarvestFest is produced by Olivette Riverside Community and Farm and Chatt Hills Music. General admission tickets are $25 with kids as well as farmers and their families admitted free. Click here for tickets.

About: Farm-to-table living expert Allison Smith is a founding partner at Olivette Riverside Community and Farm near Asheville, N.C. The region's first "agrihood," Olivette is built around a four-season organic farm and designed to connect people with nature, community, and their food. Learn more at OlivetteNC.com.

To request an interview with Allison Smith or another Olivette expert, contact publicist Michelle Tennant Nicholson: [email protected] or 828-749-3200.

# # #