PROVIDENCE, RI (AP) – The state of Rhode Island is expanding a nutritional program to provide approximately 2,500 boxes of local seasonal produce to low-income seniors.
The State Department of Environmental Management said it is working with the State Office of Healthy Aging and Farm Fresh Rhode Island to continue the program through December.
Eligible seniors participating in the program typically exchange coupons for fruit, vegetables, honey, and fresh herbs at farmers’ markets. But far fewer seniors are going to the markets during the pandemic and the state has had to return money to the federal government for unredeemed coupons, said acting DEM director Terry Gray.
Gray said his department developed a pilot bulk shopping program earlier this year to ship products direct to seniors and will use that method in place of coupons next year.
By extending the pilot program, Farm Fresh Rhode Island will be able to source items from local growers and deliver the boxes to senior centers. DEM estimates that 2,500 boxes will be available.
“Using and promoting local Rhode Island growers and fresh Rhode Island produce to feed aging Rhode Islanders suffering from food insecurity is an all round win,” Governor Dan McKee said in a statement.
The US Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service runs the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program.
