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Pennsylvania
Agriculture officials launch Farmers Market
Voucher Program for Families, Older Adults
Farmers Market
Nutrition Program provides $20 vouchers for
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- State
and federal agriculture officials helped
kick-off this year's Farmers Market
Nutrition Program at the Farm Show Farmers
Market in Harrisburg today.
The program provides vouchers for eligible older adults and
families to purchase fresh local foods at
farm markets and farm stands across
Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Dennis Wolff joined
Yvette Jackson, regional director of Food
and Nutrition Services for the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, to highlight the
partnerships that fund and promote the
program.
"Pennsylvania is proud of its active role in the Farmers
Market Nutrition Program, which provides
needed access to fresh, wholesome local
foods," said Wolff.
"The program benefits all involved, including the
individuals who purchase food, the farmers
who produce it, and the communities they
live in.
" I encourage anyone eligible for the program to take
advantage of it, and enjoy the many fresh
foods Pennsylvania offers in the summer."
Wolff said Pennsylvania is one of only a few states that
provide state funding in addition to federal
grants.
As a result, all of Pennsylvania is covered by the program.
In 2009, Pennsylvania is contributing $2.2
million to the nearly $6 million program.
The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides
low-income older adults with four coupons or
checks, totaling $20, which can be exchanged
for fruits and vegetables grown in
Pennsylvania.
The funds cannot be used on processed foods like jams,
honey, nuts, cider or baked goods, or on
citrus or tropical fruits.
To qualify for the program, individuals must be 60 or older
by Dec. 31, 2009, with a total household
income before taxes of less than $20,036 for
a single person and $26,955 for a couple.
A second program, the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program,
is available and associated with the special
supplemental nutrition program for Women,
Infants and Children, commonly known as WIC.
The program provides free supplemental foods, health care
referrals and nutrition education to
low-income pregnant and post-partum women,
and to infants and children, up to age five,
who are found to be nutritionally at- risk.
Eligibility for this program is determined through local
WIC agencies.
Statewide, 1,025 farmers are participating in the program
at 189 farm markets and 920 roadside farm
stands. The program operates from June 1 to
Nov. 30.
Residents should contact their local area agency on aging
or WIC agency for further information,
including locations, dates and times of
check distributions.
For information on where to find participating farmers
markets, check the 2009 Farm Market Guide by
visiting
www.agriculture.state.pa.us and
clicking on 'Online Services.'
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