Seniors are eligible

Dear Editor,

The farmers market has been open now for two weeks. It has been brought to my attention that not all seniors eligible for the Nebraska Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program 2003 have been made aware of it.

How seniors participate:

Sign up for the coupon program at your local participating senior center.

Must be 60 years or older.

Must meet financial requirements:

Individual, single household - $16,613 or less, Two-person household - $22,422 or less

(Note income level refers to net income reported on your federal tax return)

One set of coupons per household.

Receive coupons to redeem for fresh fruits, vegetables or herbs at farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community-support agriculture operations (CASAs). Coupons available May through August, 2003. Coupons must be redeemed no latter than October 31, 2003.

Coupons available in $3 denominations.

Redeem coupons in Nebraska.

Participant must sign the coupon, but another person can pick up the produce for the participant. Coupon is for face value only. No change will be given. The vender must be registered with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to participate in the program. I, too, am registered under Schmids' Garden Goodies should my garden produce an over abundance of produce. The certificate must be displayed at all times. If a vender needs an application there are some at the farmers market.

This coming week the venders that were there last Saturday plan to have a larger supply of produce. We hope to see a larger variety of venders and produce in the future.

Come in meet the venders, buy produce, make new friends, and greet the old ones.

Ivan Schmid

project manager

McCook Main Street Coalition