Farmers market coupons for seniors

To help local seniors eat healthy, fresh food, coupon booklets are being offered to seniors.

UTICA, N.Y. >> To help local seniors eat healthy and fresh food, the Oneida County Office for the Aging and Continuing Care will distribute coupon booklets next month that can be redeemed at community farmers markets across Oneida County.

“Once again, our eligible county seniors will receive coupons that will help them to obtain healthy and nutritious food options provided by our local farmers,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “We expect this year, that about 2,000 seniors will be assisted through this program over the course of the farmers market season.”

The coupon booklets are issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Markets and administered by the New York State Office for the Aging. They are given out annually through the County Office for the Aging & Continuing Care’s Senior Nutrition Program.

Each eligible person will receive a booklet worth $20 each. To be eligible, participants must be 60 or older and have proof of age. They must also not have received coupons from another source. Each eligible participant can receive one coupon booklet per single-person household and two coupon booklets per married couple, and must sign for their booklet.

A Power of Attorney can also pick up coupons for a senior if they present proper documentation. Participants must also meet the income requirements or be receiving assistance from one of the following programs: SSI, Public Assistance or Section 8 Housing

Subsidy. Tomeet income requirements, a participant must have a monthly gross income that does not exceed $1,926 for single-person household, $2,607 for married couple or two-person household or $3,288 for a three-person household.

The booklets are issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Markets and administered by the New York State Office for the Aging and locally through the Oneida County Office for the Aging and Continuing Care Senior Nutrition Program.

The farmers market distributions sites for the coupon booklets are as follows:

• Whitesboro Farmers Market: Whitesboro Village Green, July 15, 3-5 p.m.

• New Hartford Farmers Market: Sherrillbrook Park, July 16, 3-5 p.m.

• Boonville Farmers Market: Erwin Park, July 18, 12:30-2:30 p.m.

• Trenton Farmers Market: Village Park in Holland Patent, July 20, 9-11 a.m.

• Utica Farmers Market: Utica Chancellor Park, July 24, 10 a.m. -1 p.m.

• Clinton Farmers Market: Clinton Village Green, July 25, 10 a.m.-noon

• Oneida County Public Market: Union Station in Utica, July 27, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Rome Farmers Market: Rome City Hall Green, July 31, noon-2:30 p.m.

• Vienna Farmers Market: 7812 State Route 13 in Blossvale, Aug. 1, 3-5 p.m.

Also, starting Aug. 5, coupons will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Oneida County Office Building, Office for the Aging, 800 Park Ave., first floor in Utica and at the Oneida County Office for the Aging and Continuing Care at 300 West Dominick St. in Rome.

Anyone who is interested in learning more about the farmers market seniors coupon distribution schedule, or has questions regarding program eligibility, should call the Oneida County Office for the Aging & Continuing Care at 315798-5456 ext. 4, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.