Close to five hundred of Fall River’s low income seniors recently took advantage of the Farmers Market Coupon distribution held at our senior centers arranged by the Fall River Council on Aging.. Elders received $10 in coupons redeemable for fresh produce from participating, certified farmers at the Kennedy Park and Ruggles Park Farmers Markets. The Kennedy Park Farmers Market is open on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., from May 13 to November 25, and the Ruggles Park Farmers Market is open on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., June 15 to November 23. The Coupon Program for Elders is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Elder Nutrition Program. The coupons were made available to elders at least 60 years of age, who have limited income, through Bristol Elder Services, Inc. Limited income is evidenced by eligibility for, or enrollment in, another means-tested program that requires participants to be at or below 175% of the Federal poverty level. The goals of the program are:  to provide an opportunity for coupon recipients to shop at farmers’ markets, to encourage recipients to eat more locally-grown fresh fruits and vegetables, to promote more overall consumption of fresh produce, and to promote Massachusetts agriculture. For more information, contact Organizer Rachel Medeiros.
 

(Top row) Lee Rodrigues stops at the table at the South Main Street Senior Center to pick up her free coupons from volunteers Jennie Marciszyn and Catherine Camara. (Middle row, left) Aurora and Jose Perreria offer a good assortment of fresh vegetables at the Kennedy Park market on Saturday mornings. (Middle row, right, and Bottom row, left)  Donald Tripp from Westport accepts food coupons for produce that he offers at Kennedy Park market. (Bottom row, center) Donald's daughter, Bonnie Edge, displays some of the coupons that seniors used to purchase produce. (Bottom row, right) Farmers at the Ruggles Park market have a terrific selection of locally-grown fruits and vegetables.