Do you or someone you know look forward to purchasing fresh fruit or produce during the summer months at your local Farmer’s Market? Oneida County residents age 60 or older with qualifying incomes can receive $25 worth of vouchers that can be used in place of cash to purchase fresh vegetables and fruit at any participating Farmers’ Market.

Oneida County Department on Aging was awarded vouchers to distribute to eligible county residents as part of the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). The program is funded by USDA and has proven popular with both farmers and older consumers. The goals of SFMNP are to provide fresh, nutritious, unprepared fruits, vegetables and herbs from farmers’ markets to low income seniors as well as to expand the awareness and use of farmers’ markets, increase sales at such markets and strengthen the direct connection between farmers and consumers.

To qualify you must be an Oneida County resident, age 60 or older or Native American 55 years of age or older with a maximum annual income for one person of $20,665 or for two people in a household no more than $27,991. Annual income includes all sources such as Social Security, pensions, interest income and employment (income does not include assets like your home, vehicle, etc…) Vouchers will be limited to one $25 packet per household (not per person) and they will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis.

The first distribution will be on Wednesday, July 11, at the Oneida County Department on Aging office at 100 W. Keenan St. in Rhinelander. The hours of distribution will be from 9 a.m. to noon and again from 1:30 until 3:30 p.m. There will also be a distribution from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, July 17, at the Lakeland Senior Center.

Any older adult unable to personally attend this registration are allowed to send a person to register on their behalf (proxy), but written documentation from the registrant is required to authorize a proxy.

For more information about this event or for transportation assistance to attend the voucher distribution, call the Oneida County Department on Aging at (715) 369-6170 or (800) 379-7499 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.