Market Farming

[MariavHM AT aol.com]

Expanded Senior Farmers Market Nutriton Program in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is launching a major expansion of its Farmers' Market Nutrition
Program to benefit low-income seniors. This winter, RISA and the Farmers'
Market Trust created a statewide coalition of senior and food advocacy
groups, to meet with state legislators and the Secretary of the Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture. Due to the coalition's success, $500,000 in
coupons usable for fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets will be
given to 25,000 seniors in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

The outcome is important for a number of reasons. First, because it built a
powerful coalition, uniting small farmers, food and hunger advocates and
senior groups to support farming and farmers' markets. Second, because it
subsidizes farmers' markets in lower income communities, where the need is
great but it is difficult to find farmers willing to go. Finally, we believe
it lays the groundwork for the creation of a national seniors Farmers Market
Nutrition Program. We are grateful to The William Penn Foundation for
funding the study that led to this policy recoomendation.  

Duane Perry
Farmers' Market Trust
1201 Chestnut Street
4th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107

215 568-0830 11
215 568-0882 FAX