Kansas program offers farmers' market access to produce for seniors

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment recently took on the Kansas Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition Program, which provides low-income seniors with checks to exchange for locally grown and fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey at local farmers' markets. The program will be available in 22 Kansas counties.

The program will once again be available at the Fort Scott Area Farmers Market, which opens in May and runs through October on Skubitz Plaza near the Fort Scott National Historic Site.

"Last year, there was no money at the state level," Bourbon County Extension Agent Delta George said. "This year, KDHE has picked it (the program) up. The whole program is in Kansas again so it will be available here."

In the program, each eligible senior will receive 15 vouchers that are each worth $2 which certified vendors can accept in lieu of cash. Seniors can use the vouchers to buy fresh produce that has been locally grown either within the Kansas border or in a county adjacent to the border in a neighboring state.

Fresh fruits and vegetables that are not eligible under the program include those that are processed or prepared beyond their natural state, including dried fruits and vegetables, potted plants, wild rice, nuts, honey, jams and cider.

In order to participate in the program, vendors must attend a certification and complete an agreement. Vendor certification sessions, which are about 30-45 minutes in length, will be offered at noon Thursday and 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 17, at the Yeager Building on the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, 2102 S. Huntington Blvd.

Reservations for either session should be made by 4:30 p.m. the day prior to the event to ensure that proper material is available. Certifications are valid for three years.

In addition to the face-to-face sessions, participants may join a conference call every Friday morning at 10 a.m. starting March 12 through April 30. All sessions will be the same, therefore only one session -- live or conference call -- is needed for certification. Interested vendors should call the Bourbon County Extension Office to get the toll-free number and code. Reservations do not need to be made for the conference call option.

The three main goals of the program, according to the program's Web site, are to provide resources in the form of fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, herbs and honey from farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture programs to low-income seniors; to increase the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities by expanding or aiding in the expansion of domestic farmers' markets, roadside stands, and CSA programs; and to develop or aid in the development of new and additional farmers' markets, roadside stands, and CSA programs.

About 5,700 seniors at 185 percent of the poverty level or below will receive the benefit.

Checks may be redeemed by certified farmers between June and October. Income guidelines by individual are $1,670 per month or less. More than one individual per household can receive the benefit.

For more information, visit www.kdheks.gov/

sfmnp, or contact the Extension Office at (620) 223-3720, or SFMNP Coordinator Jennifer Church at (785) 296-8060.