Seniors can sign up for Senior Market Bucks at Farmers Market this week

On Thursday, July 12, 2018 from 3:30 to 5 p.m., St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea along with the Washtenaw County Health Department will attend the Manchester Farmers Market located in Chi Bro Park to begin registering people for this year’s Senior Market Bucks and Senior Project FRESH programs. Both programs were developed to encourage local seniors to eat better and to make healthy food choices.

“Programs like these not only support our seniors to eat healthier, but also our local farmers who produce the food,” said Christian Calaguas, MPH, RD, CDE, outpatient dietitian and community nutritionist at St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea. “We are excited to once again be able to bring nutritional resources and information to residents of our community.”

Senior Market Bucks provides local seniors with coupons to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, cheese, milk, yogurt, meat, poultry, fish, and honey through participating farmers markets. Packets of ten $1.00 coupons will be available.

The Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH program helps income-eligible seniors eat healthier as they age. The program provides participants free nutrition education and $20 in coupons to be exchanged for Michigan-grown fruit, vegetables, herbs, spices and honey from participating farmers markets and roadside stands.

The last day to use coupons from either program is October 31, 2018.

To be eligible for either program, participants must be 60 years of age or older and live in Washtenaw County. Senior Project FRESH also has an additional income-eligibility requirement.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.