Over three hundred Fall River low-income seniors took advantage of the Farmers' Market Coupon distribution held at Fall River Government Center on August 6, 2014. Each senior received $25 in coupons redeemable for fresh produce from participating, certified farmers at Kennedy Park, Ruggles Park, Charlton Hospital, Saint Anne's Hospital and the Downtown Farmers' Market, as well as other markets around the state. The Coupon Program for Elders is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. The coupons were made available to elders at least 60 years of age, who have limited income, through Bristol Elder Services, Inc. The goals of the program are 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. Click here for photos of the 2013 coupon distribution. Click here for a 90-second video of the event. For more information, contact Pauline Gousie at the Council on Aging at 508-324-2401.

(Top row, left and center) People wait in line for the coupons as Council on Aging Associate Director Pauline Gousie and Health and Human Services Director Dr. Henry Vaillancourt make sure staff members Bernadette Maynard and Caroline Medeiros are ready to distribute them. (Top row, right) Janice and Ronald Cabral are greeted by Ms. Gousie. (Middle row) Volunteer Laurel Jones goes over an application. (Bottom row left and center) Laurel completes the application for Maria Torrico while another recipient holds up the coupons. (Bottom row, right) Ann Shaker uses one of the coupons for a vegetable purchase from Manny Medeiros of Medeiros Farm at the Kennedy Park Farmers' Market.