TRENTON — Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes announced that starting June 1, the Mercer County Office on Aging/Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) will accept applications for the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, which provides funding for the purchase of fresh, nutritious, unprepared foods like fruits, vegetables and herbs to low-income older adults.
“With foods provided from authorized farmers, the program not only helps increase the nutritional health of our communities, but also increases the demand for locally grown produce and boosts the income of farmers who produce and sell locally grown products,” Mr. Hughes said. To qualify for this program, you must be able to verify that :
• You are 60 years of age or older
• You live in Mercer County
• Your income does not exceed $26,973 per year ($2,248 a month) if applying as a single person or $36,482 per year ($3,041 a month) if applying as a couple*
Those eligible will receive $50 to spend for use at participating vendors at area farmers markets. Instead of paper vouchers that were distributed in previous years, older adults will now be assigned a QR code that will be easily accessible from their smartphones.
Simply show the code (on a digital device or printed on paper from the Office on Aging/ Aging & Disability Resource Connection) to the farm market vendor, who will scan it – that’s how easy the new QR codes are to use. Funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. When you receive your QR code, you also will get a listing of participating markets and vendors.
If you are taking a trip to a market, make sure to call ahead, as market days may change due to weather and produce availability.