Date: April 21, 2005
Contact: Barbara Schoof Conant
barbaraconant@aging.state.ks.us
Director of Communications
(785) 296-6154
Kansas seniors again will have access to homegrown fruits and vegetables this summer thanks to a grant from the U. S. Department on Agriculture. The Kansas Department on Aging Secretary Pamela Johnson-Betts announced that Kansas is among the 47 states and tribal organizations receiving grant funds for the 2005 Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP).
Kansas will receive $175,986 in federal grant funds to continue providing low-income seniors with pre-printed “cheques” or coupons that can be exchanged for fresh produce at farmers’ markets, roadside stands and community-supported agriculture programs. Kansas has participated in the program since 2003.
Continued funding for the program will allow more than 6,000 low-income Kansans over the age of 60 to receive a total of $30 worth of cheques that can be used to buy fresh, Kansas-grown fruits, vegetables and herbs at farmers’ markets and roadside stands in 10 counties. The program begins in early May and will operate through September in Douglas , Johnson, Riley, Sedgwick, Shawnee , Wyandotte , Atchison , Reno , Saline and Lyon counties. The cheques are available through local food aid agencies.
“This truly is a ‘win-win’ program,” said Secretary Johnson-Betts. “It creates an important relationship between seniors and their local food producers. Seniors tell us they enjoy the ‘outings’ and the social interaction as much as they appreciate access to affordable fresh food. The producers appreciate the opportunity to provide nutritional food to the seniors in their communities as well as benefiting from the additional sales.”
Secretary Johnson-Betts also praised the nutritional information provided to seniors through the Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service, one of the program’s partners. “The nutritional information adds an important educational benefit for participating seniors,” she said.
Last year, 150 farmers participated in the Senior Farmers’ Market program. The program expanded to include nine roadside farm stands. The eligible farmers and roadside stands were authorized to accept the $2 coupons which could then be cashed or deposited at their local bank.
The program served 6,139 persons who received $30 worth of coupons. The 2004 program also expanded service to eligible home-bound seniors who received a $10 bundle of eligible foods instead of checks in July, August and October.
To be eligible, participants must be at least 60 years of age and have a household income below 130% of the poverty level if they are a The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) or Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) customer. They must be below 100% of the federal poverty income guidelines if they receive services through the Older Americans Act (OAA) Congregate Nutrition program. The fresh produce is distributed by local non-profit organizations that implement these programs.
The 2002 Farm Bill authorizes and provides $15 million annually to operate the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program for fiscal years 2003 through 2007. The U.S. Department on Agriculture expects the grants to serve more than 800,000 low-income seniors across the nation.
The Kansas Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program is a joint initiative of the KDOA, and the Kansas Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Social and Rehabilitation Services, Health and Environment and Transportation. The Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service, Kansas Fruit Growers Association, the Kansas Vegetable Growers Association, the Kansas Coordinated Transit District Council and the Kansas Rural Center are also partners in this venture.
For more information about the 2005 program, contact Tamara Tieman, KDOA nutrition and community services manager, at (785) 296-6445 or visit the KDOA website at http://www.agingkansas.org/HealthyAging/Farmers/Farmers_Index.htm