Meet Double Up Champion: Sharon Ostrowski

At Double Up Food Bucks, we’re on a mission to make fruits and veggies an accessible, affordable option for Michigan shoppers who use SNAP while also supporting our local farmers and communities. But this work simply wouldn’t be possible without the farmers markets and neighborhood grocery stores, community partners and shoppers, at the very heart of our program: Our Double Up Champions.  

Meet Double Up Champion: Sharon Ostrowski of SharKar Farm in China Township 

Through our Double Up Champion blog series, we want to elevate stories of the Michiganders who have made the Double Up program a statewide success (and national model) since 2009. Champions like Sharon Ostrowski, the owner and operator of SharKar Farm in China Township. Keep reading to learn more about Sharon’s passion for supporting Michigan farmers and let us know about a Double Up Champion near you! 

What is your favorite fruit or vegetable?  

Zucchini

How do you work with Double Up Food Bucks? 

We accept Double Up Food Bucks at all of our markets and at our farm stand. 

How does Double Up Food Bucks help people?  

My SNAP customers are so excited to be able to get extra fresh produce with Double Up Food Bucks. In the spring, they use Double Up to plant their own gardens with vegetable starts, herbs, and berry bushes. 

Why do you believe it’s important to support Michigan-grown produce?

I believe it is very important to support our Michigan farmers and Double Up Food Bucks definitely helps. Especially in today’s economy when everybody has to pinch pennies, it’s great that they’re getting the freshest produce for their money 

Do you have any tips you’d like to share with shoppers about using Double Up?  

My only tip is to please use Double Up Food Bucks! We love having our customers shop with us and being able to support them in any way we can. 

Anything else?  

SharKar Farm appreciates the fact that we have been able to accept Double Up Food Bucks over the past 15 years. 

Nominate a Champion

If you live near China Township, be sure to stop by the SharKar Farm Store to thank Sharon for her work supporting local farmers and healthy food access through Double Up Food Bucks. Do you know a Double Up Champion in your neighborhood? Tell us about them here!