In a bid to promote healthier diets among seniors and boost local farming, the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) has rolled out vouchers for Pierce County’s older residents. Eligible seniors can obtain a one-time $80 electronic benefits card to use for buying fresh produce from local farmers’ markets and farm stores. With a concerningly low percentage of seniors meeting the necessary intake of fruits and vegetables, this program aims to make nutritious options more accessible.

As reported by Pierce County’s official website, the SFMNP is looking for seniors who are at least 60 years old, or 55 for those of American Indian or Alaska Native descent, and with monthly incomes not exceeding $2,413 for individuals or $3,261 for two-person households. Applications can be submitted online in several languages, or seniors can visit either of the two Pierce County Human Services locations in Tacoma, or apply over the phone.

Aaron Van Valkenburg, Aging and Disability Resources manager, expressed the dual advantage of the initiative, stating, “We’re proud to offer this benefit to support both senior nutrition and local agriculture.” He added, “This is one of our most popular programs, so we encourage only those committed to using the benefit by Oct. 31 to apply.”

The SFMNP isn’t just making the process of obtaining fresh food easier, but also the associated technology user-friendly. Seniors can leverage the free SFMNP mobile app to make purchases at participating vendors, keep track of their balance, and find participating markets or stores.