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FRANKFORT, Ky. — A coupon program sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture helps low-income senior citizens buy fresh produce at their local farmers’ market.
“The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program benefits seniors, producers and our state as a whole,” said Commissioner Richie Farmer. “The coupons enable senior citizens to buy tasty, fresh produce and maintain a healthy diet.”
“The coupons help me get my vegetables and fruits that I normally can’t get. I don’t have much income, so they really help out,” said Sara Edge of Frankfort on a recent visit to her local farmers’ market. Vernon Riley of Frankfort bought four sacks of cantaloupes along with other vegetables. He paid for the food with his own money supplemented by the coupons. The senior center in Frankfort transports clients to the market on buses each Thursday.
The Frankfort farmers’ market has participated in the program for three years. The same program is conducted in Louisville at the Commodity Supplement Food Program warehouse and at 41 other farmers’ markets throughout Kentucky. This year the federally funded program received $251,661 for the seniors coupons.
Growers must go to KDA’s Web site and sign up to participate in the program. Local senior centers, Commodity Supplemental Food Program distribution sites and county Extension offices distribute the coupons to seniors, which can be used to buy produce at participating farmers’ markets. When the growers receive coupons they send them back in to KDA, which then sends a check for the dollar amount equal to the value of the coupons. The federal vouchers are to be used only to purchase produce from participating vendors at participating farmers’ markets.
For more information contact Jessica Anderson with the KDA Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program at (502) 573-0282.
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