Ritchie: More Oswego County Seniors to Have Access to Farm-Fresh Foods

State Senator Patty Ritchie is ensuring Oswego County seniors have access to healthy, farm-fresh fruits and vegetables this summer by helping make free coupons available that eligible seniors can redeem at local farmers markets. This year, thanks to funding secured by Senator Ritchie, 2,500 seniors in Oswego, Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties will be able to benefit from the “Senior Farmers Market Nutrition” program.

“These coupons encourage our seniors to eat more nutritious, fresh foods by introducing them to the wonderful offerings at our local farmers market,” Senator Ritchie, who serves as the Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said. “By providing these coupons, we are also creating a larger market for our hardworking farmers to sell these farm-fresh foods and putting more money directly into their pockets.”

Senator Ritchie secured $500,000 in this year’s state budget to expand the “Senior Farmers Market Nutrition” program, which provides free, $20 coupon booklets to seniors aged 60 and over who are living on a fixed income.

Since its inception four years ago, the “Senior Farmers Market Nutrition” program has helped nearly 10,000 seniors throughout Jefferson, Oswego and St. Lawrence Counties obtain fresh, healthy foods. In addition, it provides a boost in sales for the farmers growing the foods and in turn, benefits local economies.

The monthly income eligibility limits for receiving coupons are as follows:

• Household of one: $1,872/month
• Household of two: $2,538/month
• Household of three: $3,204/month

Starting Wednesday June 27^th, coupons will available for pickup at the Oswego County Office for the Aging, located at 70 Brunner Street in the city.

The Office for the Aging will also be distributing coupons at several locations throughout Oswego County.  Here is a full list of dates, locations and times coupons can be picked up:

• Wednesday, June 27, Oswego: Oswego County Office for the Aging, 9 a.m.
• Wednesday, June 27, Hannibal: Community Library, 10:30 a.m.-noon.
• Monday, July 2, Parish: Presbyterian Church, 10:30 a.m.-noon.
• Thursday, July 5, Cleveland: United Methodist Church, 10:30 a.m.-noon.
• Friday, July 6, Fulton: Municipal Building, 10:30 a.m.-noon.
• Monday, July 9, Phoenix: Congregational Church, 10:30 a.m.-noon.
• Wednesday, July 11, Mexico: Presbyterian Church, 10:30 a.m.-noon.
• Thursday, July 19, Sandy Creek: Sandy Creek Town Hall, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Coupons are already available throughout Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties. For more information on how to receive coupons, seniors must contact their local Office for the Aging.

You can find a complete list of farmers markets in our area by clicking here. 

The expansion of this program is part of the 2018-19 state budget, which saw record support for agriculture–­totaling $54.4 million–to boost dozens of programs farmers depend on, as well as launched new initiatives designed to strengthen the connection between consumers and local foods.