Low-income seniors in more than 4,100 households may benefit from access to fruits, vegetables, fresh-cut cooking herbs and honey through the Missouri Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program this summer.
The Missouri Department of Agriculture announced the availability of the program Thursday
With the COVID-19 pandemic, seniors are being encouraged to use a designated person to aid in applying for the program, as well as getting food from farmers markets, according to the department's news release.
Each senior may designate one proxy on their behalf, and the senior and proxy must both sign the program application in order to receive vouchers that allow for purchase of eligible foods from an authorized farmer at a Missouri farmers market.
The vouchers are worth $5 each, and up to 10 are available for each qualifying Missouri household.
In Mid-Missouri, seniors may apply for the vouchers through the Columbia-based Aging Best organization.
Aging Best's phone number is 573-443-5823.
Vouchers will be available through Sept. 30 and must be redeemed by Oct. 31.
Farmers interested in eligibility and participation may email the Department of Agriculture at [email protected].