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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Jaret Gibbons |
  
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Gibbons announces opening of Farmers Market Nutrition Program
HARRISBURG, July 3 – State Rep. Jaret Gibbons, D-Lawrence/Beaver/Butler, announced that the state has again opened its Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which provides nearly 300,000 low-income seniors with fresh, nutritious food.
Gibbons said the program awards vouchers to eligible seniors to purchase fresh, nutritious, locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs from farmers' markets, roadside stands and community-supported agriculture programs.
Eligible senior citizens are given four coupons, or checks, totaling $20, which can be exchanged for fruits and vegetables at participating farmer’s markets and roadside stands.
"This program is great for seniors and our local farmers," Gibbons said. "With these vouchers, we're able to increase the consumption of fresh produce among residents while helping our local farmers."
Currently, 950 farmers in Pennsylvania participate in this program. There are 182 farmer’s markets and 794 roadside farm stands in the state.
Gibbons said guidelines for eligibility have changed slightly this year with a slight increase in the total household pre-tax income limit. Under the state Department of Agriculture’s new guidelines for the program, participating seniors must be 60 or older by Dec. 31, 2008, with a total household income before taxes of less than $19,240 for a single person and $25,900 for a couple.
Participants must have vouchers to participate in the Farmers Market Nutrition Program. Gibbons said eligible seniors can pick up their vouchers at following times and locations:
Butler County – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 10 at the Slippery Rock Senior Center
Beaver County – 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. July 7 at the Beaver Falls Farmer's Market; 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. July 10 at the Ambridge Farmer's Market; and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 12 at the Beaver Farmer's Market.
Residents can also contact their local Area Agency on Aging for more locations: Lawrence County Area Agency on Aging – 724-658-3729; Beaver County Area Agency on Aging -- 724 847-2262; or Butler County Area Agency on Aging 724-282-3008.
Eligible seniors must provide proof of age and county residence in order to receive the vouchers. The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program runs from the beginning of June until the end of November in Pennsylvania.
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