Maine Senior’s Program Offers Free, Local Produce

Maine senior's can sign up to be a part of a farm share program offered through the state of Maine that will provide free, local produce for 16,000 Mainer's throughout the state.

Starting now, eligible Maine seniors can sign up to receive $50 of fresh produce for the season from 100 local participating farms.  Seniors will be able to pick up their produce at a specific farmers’ market, or at their farm or farm stand while other farmers offer delivery to seniors at their homes or housing sites.

To qualify you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a Maine resident
• Be 60 years old or older
• Have a household income of not more than 185% of the federal pverty income guidelines, which would be nearly $22,500 for an individual or nearly $30,500 for a two person household.

Seniors can sign up through farmers in their area but it is a first-come, first-serve basis and the number of Senior FarmShares is limited at each farm.

Program manager, Donna Murray, is excited to offer Maine seniors fresh food from local farms, “In a recent survey 91% of the seniors reported that they ate more fruits and vegetables because of the Maine Senior FarmShare Program and over 98% would like to participate in the program again. Our farmers love the interaction with the program recipients and, of course, it helps them financially as well.”

Find participating farmers by calling the Maine Area Agency on Aging at 877-353-3771 or follow this link to the list of participating farms by county.

More information about the program can be found at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's 'Get Real.  Get Maine' website.