ALBANY, N.Y. — The New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets here has reported that a record 975 New York farmers at 400 farmers’ markets participated in the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program in 2008, a 5% increase over 2007.
Over 364,000 nutritionally at-risk households benefited from the program last year. Seniors and WIC participants redeemed over $5.6 million in Farmers' Market Nutrition Program checks in 2008 to purchase fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets across the state.
The program provides coupons for fresh produce to help low-income, nutritionally at-risk women, children and seniors improve their diets, and is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service. Last year, 114,000 low-income senior households and 250,000 WIC families benefited from the program, which also helps farmers increase the sale of locally grown fruits and vegetables through the markets.
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