Ah, summer. A great time to take advantage of all the fresh, local produce available at area farmers markets.

But that can be tough when food budgets are tight. Some active duty Navy families who receive support through the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island got a little budget boost last week at the Oak Harbor Public Market.

The NAS Whidbey WIC office began handing out its annual Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers to eligible family members June 23.

“We have 250 packets of vouchers. Each packet is $20, and each eligible person in the family gets one voucher packet,” said Ann Srdar, supervisor for NAS Whidbey Island WIC. “Families only get them once a year, and they’re distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.”

While WIC officials will be there each Thursday until the voucher packets run out, the demand last week was high. The line, at least two-or-three people deep, wrapped around the outside edge of the market by the parking lot and back into the market. Srdar said they distributed 160 voucher packs. Reusable shopping bags and a cookbook with recipes for fruits and vegetables were also handed out.

Though it’s been around nearly two decades, the program is still new for some, who said they were happy to get the vouchers.

“This is my first time hearing about it,” said Priscilla Reither, who has an 18-month-old daughter and whose husband is an Aviation Structural Mechanic. “It’s a nice program for people to help them eat healthier.”

While the amount may not seem like a lot to some, Reither said $20 can be put to good use at the market.

“You’ve just got to shop smart — $20 goes a long way when you need it,” she said.

“This is extra money, above and beyond what they normally get,” explained Srdar. “Plus, everybody loves getting fresh fruits and vegetables and they love going to the market. It’s a nice family outing.”

“This has been a win-win-win for everybody involved,” said market manager Peg Tennant. “It’s a bump (in business) for the market, a bump for the farmers, people get some really good food and they all get a nice day in the park.”

Tennant said the timing of last week’s distribution was good as well.

“This is the first day for local strawberries,” she said.

Most of the produce vendors at the market accept the vouchers, which come in $2 increments. And the vendors like being able to help their customers.

“You can get produce at the grocery store, but there’s such a great variety here at the farmers market, and having so much fresh stuff is amazing,” said Candice Pedroza of Swanson Farms.

“I can see they’re really happy to be able to use (the vouchers), and they’re really thoughtful with how they spend their checks,” said Anna Reiser, with Five Acre Farm. “I’m proud they choose to use them for our products.”

The FMNP was established by the U.S. Congress in 1992 primarily to help provide fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits and vegetables to WIC participants. The program’s other aim was to help increase awareness of farmers markets and boost their sales. In 2010, 45 state agencies, U.S. territories and federally recognized Indian Tribal Organizations received grants to operate the FMNP.

The WIC supplemental nutrition program is an income-based program that helps pregnant women, new mothers and young children. The NAS Whidbey WIC office is located in Building 13 on the Seaplane Base. (Another office on First Avenue in Oak Harbor serves non-military families, and will also be distributing farmers market vouchers to its clients.) Any active duty families with questions are invited to contact the NAS Whidbey WIC office at 257-8049.