Got veggies? Grant helps seniors get theirs

MAT-SU — The cost of fresh fruit and vegetables can be daunting, and if you're on a limited budget, it's often one of the first items to be crossed off the "must-have" list.

To encourage more healthy eating choices and exercise, the Alaska Department of Health and Human Services worked to obtain a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The grant will facilitate the distribution of $20 coupon books to low-income seniors and disabled adults for fruit and vegetables purchased at Farmers' Markets, fruit and vegetable stands or directly from farms.

"[The Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition program] is being piloted in Anchorage, Palmer and Wasilla," said Diane Peck, a family nutritionist for DHHS. "Coupons are being distributed at the Wasilla Senior Center and the Palmer Senior Center."

The program, Peck said, is based on a similar program that has been running for approximately three years, for people receiving assistance through the Women Infants and Children (WIC) program.

"The [WIC] program has shown to be very successful," Peck said.

Every dollar of this grant, Peck said, will go to the purchase of fruit and vegetables — none of the awarded money will go to supplies or staff time.

"That's rather unusual for a grant," Peck said. "Everything that [the Alaska DHHS, the Alaska Division of Agriculture and the United Way of Mat-Su is] doing is donated — and the time the senior center staff take to hand out the coupons."

Peck said approximately 400 seniors have signed up to receive coupon books at this time, barely making a dent in the 5,000 books the grant will allow them to distribute.

Those interested in taking part in the program must meet certain guidelines, Peck said.

"It's for lower-income seniors who are 60 and over," Peck said. "It's also for disabled adults 21 and over who have qualified for Medicaid, Medicare [or other similar programs]."

The spouses of such individuals also qualify to take part in the program, Peck said, even if he or she is either under 60 years of age or not disabled.

Each coupon is worth $2, and those taking part in the program can purchase fruit from any vendor who displays a "Senior/WIC Farmers' Market welcome here" sign.

The coupons can be redeemed at Saturday Market, New Farmers Market and Wednesday Market in Anchorage, Eagle River's Tuesday market, Wasilla's Wednesday Farmers Market, and at Arctic Organics, Bannon Farm, Mat-Valley Peas and Wolverine Farms, Mat-Valley Potato Growers and Pyrah's Pioneer Peak, all farms in the Palmer and Wasilla area.

"Farmers are very enthusiastic about the program," Peck said. "This is a win-win situation for Alaska seniors and our farmers."

Those who wish to take part in the program can contact the Wasilla Senior Center at 376-3104 or the Palmer Senior Center at 745-5454.