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US Senior Government Information Senior Dating

Dept. Agriculture Awards Grants To Help Seniors Buy Fresh Produce

On January 4, 2001, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman awarded nearly $15 million in grants to help more than 370,000 low-income seniors in 31 states, four Indian Tribal Governments and one Indian Tribal Organization buy fresh produce at farmers markets.

"This new initiative encourages low-income seniors to improve their diets, while helping America's family farmers increase their markets for locally-grown fruits and vegetables," Glickman said.

The new initiative, announced by President Clinton last November, will provide recipients with $20 to $200 in benefits that vary from state to state, for use during the 2001 harvest season to purchase fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs from 3,500 farmers at 950 farmers' markets, as well as 560 roadside stands and nearly 90 community supported agriculture programs.

The initiative will be administered by state and tribal governments, many of which have developed creative, collaborative efforts to provide nutrition education to participating senior citizens. For example:

Each of West Virginia's 10,000 recipients will receive a 5-pound bag of West Virginia apples.
Hawaii and Choctaw/Mississippi will use paperless systems that are essentially electronic debit programs. Participants present their ID card at the market and the value of the produce they select is deducted from their account.
Washington State will provide biweekly home deliveries of produce to homebound seniors in the Seattle area, as an expansion of the existing Pike Place Market Basket's community supported agriculture.
Alaska is providing transportation to get groups of seniors to and from farmers markets.
Maine has arranged with local growers to take their produce directly to congregate meal sites and housing centers.

Below are the states, Indian Tribal Governments and the Indian Tribal Organization that will receive the grants.

       Alabama - $710,840

       Alaska - $100,000

       Arkansas - $101,500

       California - $1,000,000

       Chickasaw Nation (Oklahoma) - $215,280

       Connecticut - $111,300

       District of Columbia - $237,500

       Florida - $200,000

       Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (Michigan) - $13,500

       Hawaii - $495,000

       Illinois - $1,080,000

       Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan - $130,000

       Iowa - $560,000

       Louisiana - $500,000

       Maine - $769,500

       Maryland - $192,000

       Massachusetts - $200,000

       Michigan - $150,000

       Minnesota - $110,000

       Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians - $9,000

       Montana - $45,500

       North Carolina - $77,303

       Nebraska - $200,000

       New Hampshire - $72,000

       New Jersey - $420,000

       New York - $1,500,000

       Ohio - $1,200,000

       Oregon - $1,500,000

       Osage Tribal Council (Oklahoma) - $17,500

       South Carolina - $750,000

       Tennessee - $375,000

       Vermont - $43,400

       Virginia - $250,000

       Washington State - $57,000

       West Virginia - $1,200,000

       Wisconsin - $330,000