Program will help produce growers, seniors alike

Janice Ayres is getting excited about fruits and vegetables this spring as area farmers begin to think about bringing in their crops.

Ayres, executive director for the Retired and Senior Volunteers Program, will sign up area seniors for produce at area farmers' markets as part of a program offered by the USDA'S Food and Nutrition Service.

The service recently awarded $200,010 to operate the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program this season in selected counties in Nevada.

The Nevada Division for Aging Services provided a grant of $20,000 for administration of the program.

"This is so exciting," said Ayres, who assisted in writing the grant proposal and will be the subcontractor administering the program. "We can't wait to get started."

The purpose of the program is to increase the consumption, production and distribution of locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs, while supplementing the nutritional needs for 6,700 of Nevada's low-income seniors in Carson City, Gardnerville, Minden, Dayton, Virginia City, Reno, Sparks, Fernley, Lockwood, Fallon, Winnemucca and Hawthorne, and in Indian reservations and colonies.

Participants must 60 years of age or older with annual individual incomes range of $16,391 to $22,089. They will get a book of 10 coupons, each worth $3 each to use at the farmers' markets in Carson City, Gardnerville, Fallon, Winnemucca, Hawthorne, Reno and Sparks from July through September.

The Nevada program is a cooperative effort through the Department of Administration, Department of Agriculture, Division for Aging Services, Nevada Rural Counties RSVP Program and the Nevada Certified Farmers' Market Association.

"We are proud to be the state sponsor for the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program," said Debra Meizel, program chief, for the Nevada Department of Administration and Commodity Food Distribution Program.

"All of the farmers who participate in the markets are thrilled to be a part of this program," said Shirley Sponsler, president of the Nevada Certified Farmers' Market Association. "It was a success for the demonstration project administered by RSVP in Carson City last year, and we are ecstatic that 6,700 seniors will now be included this year."

Information on signup locations and how to apply will be announced sometime this month. To place your name on a notification list, call RSVP at 687-4680 or toll free 1-800-992-0900, ext. 4680.