For Immediate Release
August
30, 2018
Contact:
John Bott, (207) 287-3156
John.c.bott@maine.gov
Maine Senior FarmShare has 1,000 more openings!
Seniors can get $50 worth
of fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers
AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation
and Forestry (DACF) announced today that it has received additional funding from USDA’s Senior Farmers’ Market
Nutrition Program to support its Maine Senior FarmShare Program. These
funds will provide $50 worth of fresh fruits and vegetables to an additional 1,000 Maine seniors for the duration of this growing season.
ELIGIBILITY: The program is for Maine seniors who are 60 and older and
meet income eligibility guidelines.
DEADLINE: Seniors must sign up with a farm by September 21, 2018.
PARTICIPATING FARMS
(Note:
Some farms will show as full, seniors should still contact them due to the
additional funds, all farms should have availability)
Maine
Senior FarmShare:
Maine’s
Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, Maine Senior FarmShare, is
managed by the Maine Department of Agriculture and supported by partner
agencies throughout Maine. It utilizes a community-supported
agriculture model to maximize benefits to local produce farmers and
low-income seniors. During the 2017 season, participating farmers
provided fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs directly to approximately
17,000 low-income seniors throughout Maine.
Maine’s
program provides individual Maine seniors with $50 worth of fresh fruits and vegetables during the growing season. The program is designed to maximize direct support to farmers and
low-income seniors, promote community relationships and provide nutrition
education.
A
“share” is $50 worth of fruits and vegetables delivered directly to seniors. Farmers
may also have seniors come to their farm, a farmers’ market or other
distribution sites where seniors can select what they want and “draw down”
on their credit balance. Available fruits and vegetables vary from farm to
farm, for September through November they may include: squash, corn, apples, beets, broccoli, eggplant, radishes, pumpkins and potatoes.
For
additional information, contact: donna.murray@maine.gov or visit https://www.maine.gov/dacf/ard/senior_farm_share.shtml
Seniors can also reach out to
their local Area Agency on Aging for assistance by calling the toll free number: 1-877-353-3771.
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