WESTSIDE — 2010 was the first year for the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program in Northwest Arkansas. From April to October last year, the Office of Human Concern, a not-for-profit based in Rogers, distributed vouchers to 1,936 qualifying low-income seniors in Northwest Arkansas. Recipients exchanged the coupons for more than $70,000 worth of fresh, local food produced by over 100 farmers in Benton, Carroll, Madison and Washington counties.

The Office of Human Concern is working with funding from the U.S.Dept. of Agriculture and the Arkansas Division of Aging and Adult Services to replicate the success in 2011. The purpose of the program is to improve the nutrition of area seniors while supporting local economies and increasing the consumption of Arkansas-grown produce.

“This program sure helps us eat,” one 2010 participating senior remarked about the program. “I wish we could do this every week!”

The market vendors agreed. “The seniors helped the farmers and we helped the seniors,” explained Allyson Ransom, the manager for the Gravette Farmers’ Market.

The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program will enable over 2,000 seniors to receive farmers’ market coupons totaling $50.00 for each participating household. The coupons will be accepted by vendors at most farmers’ markets in Northwest Arkansas, including Gravette and Siloam Springs. Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupons can be exchanged for a wide variety of locally-grown produce, from asparagus to zucchini.

Applicants must be age 60 or above and live in Benton, Carroll, Madison or Washington County. Seniors must also have an income that does not exceed 185 percent of federal poverty guidelines.

Seniors who received farmers’ market coupons in 2010 will receive a 2011 application in the mail. Seniors who did not participate in 2010 can pick up an application at the main building of the Office of Human Concern, East Spruce Street in Rogers. Applications can also be found at the Gravette Farmers’ Market, the Billy V. Hall Senior Center in Gravette and other locations around Northwest Arkansas. For more information about the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program or to find enrollment sites and participating farmers’ markets in your area, please contact the Office of Human Concern at (479) 636-7301.

News, Pages 14 on 06/15/2011