BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. — Saratoga County officials recently announced that its Seniors Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, administered by the Department of Aging and Youth Services, provided $11,095 in fresh, local produce to Saratoga County seniors during the recently ended 2022 season.
According to a news release, each year, the Saratoga County Department of Aging and Youth Services distributes coupon booklets to qualifying seniors through its Elderly Nutrition Program. Qualified individuals are those aged 60 or older who earn a monthly income of no more than $2,096 a month for a one-person household or no more than $2,823 a month for a two-person household.
The coupons can be redeemed at participating farmers market locations throughout Saratoga County.
“As we wind down from the farmers market season, we are proud to reflect on the success of the Seniors Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program in Saratoga County and are happy to see so many of our seniors benefit from this program,” Sandra Cross, Director of the Saratoga County Department of Aging and Youth Services, said in the release. “We encourage more eligible seniors to take advantage of this program each summer.”
Last year, the Department distributed 3,325 coupons valued at $16,625. Saratoga County seniors redeemed 2,219 of these coupons, which provided them with a total of $11,095 in fresh, local produce to support their health and nutrition. 2022 is the most recently completed season for which statistics are available.
“The Seniors Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program not only helps our low-income seniors access fresh, locally grown produce, but it also supports our local farmers, which are a vital part of the Saratoga County economy,” Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman Theodore T. Kusnierz, Jr. said in the release. “I thank our Department of Aging and Youth Services for their excellent work in making these coupons available to our seniors and encouraging more eligible seniors to participate each year.”
The Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) is designed to provide low-income seniors with access to locally grown fruits, vegetables, and cut herbs; increase the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities through farmers’ markets.