Harrisburg, PA – At the PA Open Air Farmers Market on the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg at the moment, Wolf Administration officers reminded Pennsylvania’s low-income seniors and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program recipients to acquire and use their vouchers from the Pennsylvania Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) to buy contemporary and native fruits, greens, and herbs from FMNP-approved farmers at farmers markets and farm stands throughout the commonwealth.
“The Farmers Market Nutrition Program helps the well being and wellbeing of seniors and households and helps facilitate much more connections and conversations between native farmers and communities, bringing neighbors collectively for nourishment,” stated Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “I encourage everybody with program vouchers to make use of them to select up some native meals and know that you just’re supporting an area farm household once you do.”
From June by September, the WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs present low-income seniors and eligible individuals within the WIC program with vouchers to buy Pennsylvania-grown fruits, greens, and fresh-cut herbs from authorised farm markets and farm stands throughout the commonwealth. In an effort to guard susceptible Pennsylvanians, vouchers are distributed to individuals from WIC clinics and Area Agencies on Aging.
The worth of vouchers redeemed by the FMNP program and {dollars} instantly supporting Pennsylvania farmers who take part in this system are greater than $3 million yearly.
“Many older Pennsylvanians dwell on mounted incomes. With the growing prices of meals and different requirements, these farmers market vouchers assist help seniors by offering them with entry to contemporary, nutritious meals which are helpful for his or her well being and well-being,” stated Secretary of Aging Robert Torres. “I encourage eligible seniors who haven’t but acquired their free farmers market vouchers to contact their native Area Agency on Aging for any help they might require to acquire them.”
To be eligible, seniors should be 60 years outdated by December 31, 2022, and have incomes that don’t exceed 185 p.c of the federal poverty degree, which is at present $25,142 per 12 months for a single individual or $33,874 for a family of two. Eligible seniors can contact their native Senior FMNP Agency for added info concerning the best way to apply for vouchers. Women, and youngsters ages 6 months to 4 years, who’re taking part in WIC are eligible to obtain vouchers beneath the WIC FMNP. For extra info on the best way to obtain their vouchers, WIC recipients ought to contact their native WIC company. Each eligible recipient receives 4 $6.00 checks to spend all through the season. Participants could redeem vouchers from June 1 by November 30, 2022.
“We know that offering entry to wholesome, reasonably priced meals is crucial to assist households throughout Pennsylvania,” Acting Secretary of Health and Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson stated. “The WIC program offers Pennsylvanians the chance to study, develop and kind wholesome consuming habits that may have life-long advantages. This program is one instance of how the work of native farmers and out there assets offers households with entry to contemporary fruits, greens and different meals that promote wholesome existence.”
The Department of Human Services has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to help entry to contemporary, wholesome meals for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients whereas supporting Pennsylvania’s agricultural economic system. Interested market homeowners ought to apply to be a certified SNAP retailer through FNS. Once approved to just accept SNAP, distributors can contact Pennsylvania’s digital profit switch (EBT) supplier Conduent at 1-888-736-6328 to request free wi-fi EBT processing tools. The grant additionally covers set-up prices and one 12 months of SNAP transaction charges.
“By making the most of the chance totally free EBT tools to just accept SNAP, farmers markets can provide a brand new avenue for Pennsylvanians who depend on SNAP to spend their advantages on contemporary, nutritious meals,” stated DHS Deputy Executive Secretary Andrew Barnes. “And by serving to Pennsylvanians preserve meals on the desk, we’re supporting native meals retailers and producers, easing demand on charitable meals programs, and, most significantly, serving to folks obtain a greater high quality of life that they deserve.”
Applications for the SNAP and different public help applications will be submitted on-line at www.compass.state.pa.us or by telephone at 1-866-550-4355. On-site County Assistance Office (CAO) providers can be found if purchasers can’t entry on-line providers or want help that can not be accessed by the COMPASS web site, the myCOMPASS PA cell app, or by calling the Customer Service Centers at 215-560-7226 for Philadelphia purchasers or 1-877-395-8930 for purchasers in all different counties.
The Department of Agriculture has a free FMNP Market Locator app for iOS and Android gadgets. The app is offered for obtain in each the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Once loaded on a cell system, customers can both allow their location providers on the telephone or manually enter a location (metropolis, city, zip code) to search out taking part markets or farm stands close by. The app will present the market location, handle, instructions, telephone quantity, and hours.
Pennsylvania farmers inquisitive about taking part in FMNP and being a part of the answer to meals insecurity locally are inspired to apply. Currently, there are greater than 1,050 authorised farmers at 828 farm stands and 344 farmers’ markets throughout the state.
For extra info on FMNP or different meals safety assets in Pennsylvania, go to agriculture.pa.gov/foodsecurity.
Note: Photos and video from this occasion will probably be out there at PAcast.com.
MEDIA CONTACT: Jack Eilber, Aging: [email protected]
https://www.media.pa.gov/pages/Aging_details.aspx?newsid=359
