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AUGUSTA – Additional funding means that the Maine Senior FarmShare program has more openings, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry announced.
Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. The money will provide $50 worth of fresh fruit and vegetables to an additional 1,000 Maine seniors for the duration of this growing season.
The program is for Maine seniors who are 60 and older and meet income eligibility guidelines. Seniors must sign up with a farm by Thursday, Sept. 21.
To see participating farms, visit www.getrealmaine.com. Some farms will show as full, but because of the additional money, all should have availability and seniors who want to participate should contact the farm they’re interested in regardless of that.
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 fruit, vegetables, and herbs directly to approximately 17,000 low-income seniors throughout Maine.
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 fruit 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 more infomration, contact: donna.murray@maine.gov or visit maine.gov/dacf.
Seniors can also contact their local Area Agency on Aging for assistance by calling 1-877-353-3771.
