Older adults who meet income eligibility guidelines can receive some welcome relief from food costs as Buckeye Hills Regional Council welcomes the return of the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program for 2022.
The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program is a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Ohio Department of Aging to allow income-eligible seniors the opportunity to purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables from participating farmers’ markets.
Each eligible applicant age 60 and older receives $50 worth of coupons. Grant funding is limited, and coupons are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each participant will receive a total of ten $5 coupons. Coupons may be redeemed by authorized participating farmers who sell produce at farmers’ markets or roadside stands. The program runs through October 31.
Individuals interested in participating in the program can request the mail-in form or apply online. Applications may also be picked up from the Buckeye Hills office at 1400 Pike Street in Marietta, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, as well as local senior centers, Job and Family Services offices, OSU Extension, and farmers’ markets. Applications will be checked for the appropriate postmark, date-stamped, and processed for distribution on a first-come, first-served basis by county. Coupons will be mailed to eligible applicants as soon as possible after the registrations are processed. Once each county’s allocations have been filled, individuals will be placed on a waiting list and receive notification by mail.
Applications will be available to download on March 14. An online submission form will be available on March 15. Applications must be postmarked or electronically submitted on or after the following dates for each county:
- Tuesday, March 15 or later from Athens and Hocking county residents
- Tuesday, March 22 or later from Monroe and Washington county residents
- Tuesday, March 29 or later from Meigs, Morgan, Noble, and Perry county residents.
Income eligibility requirements include: one person in a household with an income of $0-$23,828; 2 people in a household with an income of $0-$32,227; and 3 people in a household with an income of $0-$40,626; additional eligibility thresholds are available on the application.
In 2021, the program served 1,929 seniors. More than 40 local farmers provided food for the program, redeeming $85,450 in coupons for fresh, healthy produce.