Senior Project FRESH Available This Summer
Eligible Older Michigan Residents Are Encouraged to Enroll
Contact: Shirley Bentsen (517) 373-8765
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30, 2012
LANSING - The Office of Services to the Aging (OSA) encourages all eligible older Michigan residents to enroll in this year's Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH, beginning May 1. This innovative nutrition program provides qualified older people with coupons used as cash to purchase fresh, locally grown produce from authorized Michigan farmers' markets and roadside stands.
People age 60 and older with a total household income of $20,147 or less for an individual or $27,214 for a couple are eligible to apply, as well as those receiving SNAP benefits, commodities, or other federal food assistance. Applicants must also live in a county participating in the program. The program begins May 15, with all coupons used no later than Oct. 31.
"This program offers a great opportunity for us to promote healthy aging through nutrition," said Kari Sederburg, Director of the OSA. "A diet rich in fruits and veggies is important for all of us, and especially so for older adults to help manage and prevent many chronic illnesses. And there's nothing more delicious and nutritious than eating Michigan-grown melons, tomatoes, or juicy strawberries during the summer months."
This federally-funded Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH program is a proven win-win for farmers and seniors alike. Last year more than 20,000 older people were helped, and Michigan farmers received an impressive $500,000 in coupon redemption from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
For more information and to sign up, please visit www.michigan.gov/marketfresh or call your local Area Agency on Aging. The Office of Services to the Aging is an agency of the State of Michigan whose mission is to provide leadership, innovation, advocacy, and policy on behalf of Michigan's older adults and their caregivers.
For more information contact the Office of Services to the Aging at (517) 373-8230 or visit www.michigan.gov/miseniors.
# # #
