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Department for the Aging Begins Distribution of Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Coupons

Eligible older New Yorkers can exchange coupons for fresh fruit and produce at city farmers markets and farm stands.

This year’s coupons are worth $25, an increase of $5 from last year

Starting this week, the Department for the Aging’s network of community based partners will begin distributing Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons to more than 40,000 eligible older New Yorkers across the five boroughs. The coupons have a value of $25 and can be exchanged for locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables at farmers markets and farm stands. New Yorkers, who are 60+ and meet eligibility requirements, can apply and pick up the $25 vouchers at their Older Adult Club or Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) center.

“Healthy food is medicine that all New Yorkers should have access to," said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. "Changing my diet by eating healthier foods helped transform my life, putting my type 2 diabetes into remission. And providing all New Yorkers with access to those same healthy foods is crucial to building a more equitable city. Farmers markets are abound with fresh fruits and vegetables, and the coupons through the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program help make those healthy foods more affordable. I encourage all eligible New Yorkers to take advantage of this program so they can realize the benefits of eating the nutritious foods our bodies need.”

“For years, the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program has given older adults an additional opportunity to access healthy food, right in their back yards” said Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez. “This program supports older residents on fixed incomes, who appreciate having multiple options where they purchase fruits and vegetables.”

“One-in-ten older New Yorkers are food insecure, and it is vitally important that we do all we can to ensure older adults have access to nutritional meals and culturally sensitive foods. New York City’s Department for the Aging’s Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is a tangible step to not only curbing food insecurity, but ensuring older New Yorkers have access to fresh and healthy options when they are grocery shopping,” said Council Member & Committee on Aging Chair Crystal Hudson. “This program is integral to the health and wellbeing of our older neighbors, who are among some of our most vulnerable community members.”

"As someone who represents a district with a significant amount of seniors, it is amazing we are making healthy, sustainable food more accessible for our older population" said Council Member Lynn Schulman, Chair of the Committee on Health. "We are only as strong as our most vital communities, and creating equitable access like this to keep our senior population healthy makes all of us stronger as a community"

“Expanding access to quality and nutritious food is paramount to creating a healthier and more equitable City,” said Amanda Farías, City Council Member and Chair of the Committee on Economic Development, “The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is so important to communities like mine where we have a large population of residents aging in place and on a fixed income. This program not only gives those living on fixed incomes the ability to purchase fresh produce at their neighborhood farmers markets, but it also helps support our local farmers and agricultural businesses. This is a great example of how we in government can help support our residents and boost our local economy simultaneously.”

The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is a federally funded initiative by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The annual program promotes good nutrition and access to locally grown produce for low-income older adults, while also supporting local farmers, farmers markets, and farm stands. This year’s coupons are worth $25, a $5 increase from last year. The coupons come in a booklet of five, with each coupon worth $5.

Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis and is open to all eligible older adults. You do not have to be a member of an Older Adult Center to qualify, yet we encourage you to join a local Center for this and many other programs.

Eligible older New Yorkers must be 60 years of age or older and be earning $2,096 a month for a one-person household; $2,823 a month for a two person household; or $3,551 a month for a three person household. The coupons can be used through Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

To find the closest older adult center or NORC in your community, visit the Department for the Aging’s service finder at nyc.gov/aging/services

For more information on the Farmers Market Nutrition Program and for a list of locations where the coupons are being accepted, visit here: https://tinyurl.com/2dpv6rmk

For more information on Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, call Aging Connect at 212-AGING-NYC (212-244-6469).

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