by Rebecca Vaught, 2023 No Kid Hungry Summer Youth Ambassador

  As the sun beat through the leaves in a corner of Dolly Graham Park, volunteers and market employees set up crates filled to the brim with vegetables. As volunteers portioned out herbs and eggplants, local children scrambled over from the playground, eager for the samples of fresh food soon to come. Once 5 pm hit, buyers began to fill boxes and bags with ears of sweet corn, fragrant basil, leafy Swiss chard and kale, and juicy tomatoes. Past the vegetables, Chef Mike Vaughn prepared samples of mushroom & bacon caprese bites and fruit kebabs adorned with delicious locally grown fruit.


The South Frankfort Food Share has the lofty goal of achieving fresh, locally-grown food for all by pricing vegetables on a sliding scale. The Friends of the Market purchases ~a dozen types of vegetables at a bulk rate, aiming for 80 portions of each item. They then sell shares on a sliding scale. If you were to purchase the food at market, it would cost $30-40. However, the food share follows a pay-what-you-can model. For those on SNAP, shares are $6; for those identifying as limited income - $12; market value price is $30; and food justice shares are $40. Each box contains over a dozen veggies. This week’s share, for example, included:

  • 4 ears of corn

  • 1 cucumber

  • 1 lb potatoes

  • 1 Onion

  • 1 lb zucchini

  • 1 lb Eggplant OR 1 head of Cabbage

  • 1 Green Pepper

  • ½ lb Swiss chard OR ½ lb Kale

  • 1 lb Green Beans

  • 3-4 Tomatoes

  • Bagful of Basil

  • Bagful of Cutting Celery

The vegetables rotate out throughout the year as food comes into season. The Food Share is held every other Tuesday until October 17. In addition to just receiving a box of food, the Food Share has also become a community event, with the Friends of the Market inviting local chefs and nutritionists to create samples with the vegetables that we have available, and multiple activity providers, such as Paul Sawyier Public Library, Roaming Studio, and Thornhill Education Center. Last night, Chef Mike Vaughn from the Governor’s Mansion provided samples of wild mushroom and bacon caprese bites and fruit kebabs. Market volunteers sliced fresh watermelon. The Food Share has become somewhat of an event in south Frankfort, even drawing those who aren’t purchasing shares.

Interested in purchasing a share? Follow this link (https://www.franklincountyfarmersmarket.org/foodshare) to purchase a box for the August 8th food share. In addition, the Share is always looking for supporters. The price of being a South Frankfort Food Share Supporter is $250, which helps make the economics of the program work. 


The Friends of the Market have hosted 5 Food Shares so far this year, and have provided almost 400 individual shares. 75% of those shares were for those with limited income, purchasing $6 and $12 shares. The Food Share has bought nearly $7,000 of produce this year alone from local farmers.

As always, questions about the South Frankfort Food Share should be directed towards Connie Lemley (vista@franklincountyfarmersmarket.org)

By: Rebecca Vaught