In Jersey City, the program provides eligible seniors with four $5 vouchers (for a total of $20) that can be spent on fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers markets, and this year the city will be allocated enough vouchers to serve 3,000 seniors. Applications are available at the Health and Human Services Department, Office of Senior Nutrition, 199 Summit Avenue, Suite D-2, Jersey City. For more information contact Carlos Pasquale at 201-547-5750.
The purposes of the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program are to...
- Provide resources in the form of fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey and herbs from farmers' markets, roadside stands and community supported agriculture programs to low-income seniors,
- Increase the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities by expanding or aiding in the expansion of domestic farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs, and
- Develop or aid in the development of new and additional farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs.
Fresh, nutritious, unprocessed fruits, vegetables, honey, and fresh-cut herbs can be purchased with SFMNP benefits. State agencies may limit SFMNP sales to specific foods that are locally grown in order to encourage SFMNP recipients to support the farmers in their own States. Certain foods are not eligible for purchase with SFMNP benefits; these include dried fruits or vegetables, such as prunes (dried plums), raisins (dried grapes), sun-dried tomatoes or dried chili peppers. Potted fruit or vegetable plants, potted or dried herbs, wild rice, nuts of any kind (even raw), maple syrup, cider, and molasses are also not allowed.
No comments:
Post a Comment