AARP Maine’s News You Can Use
By Joyce Bucciantini, AARP Maine community outreach volunteer
By August, Maine’s farm stands and farmers’ markets are bursting with fresh produce. Summer fruits and vegetables are ready to harvest with fall apples soon to come. It is easy to follow our grandmother’s advice to “eat your veggies” when we have such a plentiful array of locally grown produce available in our communities.
Odds are there is a farmers’ market or farm stand close by that participates in Maine’s Senior FarmShare and Harvest Bucks programs, which facilitate healthy eating, create stronger community connections, and support our local agricultural economy.
Maine’s Senior FarmShare Program provides eligible older adults the opportunity to receive a share (worth $50) of local produce at no cost from Maine farmers during the growing season. Senior Farm Shares are income-based, with the goal of helping older adults gain access to farm-fresh produce. The maine.gov website for Senior Farm Shares has detailed information about how to apply for the farm shares and which farms or markets participate in this program.
Maine’s Federation of Farmers’ Markets website https://mainefarmersmarkets.org, lists local farmers’ markets and farm stands which accept SNAP/EBT cards and participate in Maine’s Harvest Buck program (https://www.maineharvestbucks.org). Shoppers receive $5 of Harvest Bucks for every $10 of SNAP used to purchase farm-fresh foods. Shoppers have access to locally grown fresh fruits and veggies while stretching limited benefits further. A win-win for both the families and farmers.
The idea of eating nutritious food is not new. My mother’s 1950s era Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook explained the science between nutritious foods and good health. Maine’s Senior FarmShare and Harvest Bucks programs help older Mainers and Maine’s families afford fresh, locally grown foods, keeping Mainers and our communities healthy and strong.
As always, see you at an AARP Maine event near you and remember to “eat your veggies!”
Please use the following web address to find more information about AARP Maine and events near you: aarp.org/me, me@aarp.org, @aarpmaine, 866-554-5380.
Bucciantini is a retired middle school educator. She currently coordinates Delta Kappa Gamma’s Read to Me program, is a tutor with Literacy Volunteers-Androscoggin and is an active AARP Maine volunteer. In her spare time, she enjoys her gardens, being outdoors and traveling.