Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes has announced that older adults in Mercer County will again have the opportunity to receive fresh-produce checks that will enable them to purchase locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables at participating farm stands.
Representatives from the Mercer County Nutrition Office will offer the checks on Friday, June 26, 2015, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Extension Services Building, located at 930 Spruce Street in Lawrence.
Eligible senior citizens will receive checks to redeem fresh produce at various vendor sites throughout the county. Each person will receive four $5 checks that total $20 and are valid until Nov. 30, 2015. Kindly note that checks will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Farmers Market program was developed to provide low-income seniors with checks they can use to purchase fresh produce grown by New Jersey farmers. The Mercer County Nutrition Program is the lead agency and coordinator in Mercer County for the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program.
Qualifications are as follows: a single person’s income must not exceed $21,775 per year or $1,815 monthly; a couple’s income must not exceed $29,471 per year or $2,456 monthly.
Documentation is required for certification that includes: Identity and residency proof, driver’s license, utility/phone bill or birth certificate, proof of income, current income tax return, social Security statement, or medicare or food Stamp program card.
The Mercer County Nutrition Project reminds seniors of these guidelines: you must be 60 years old to receive checks, you must provide proof of income or self-declare your gross income to meet the income guidelines, you may not pick up checks for anyone other than yourself, unless you are serving as a proxy.
Checks are to be signed in front of the farmers. Do not send signed checks to the market with a friend. The farmer has the right to refuse to honor them. Checks may be used only at certified farm stands- not grocery stores. Stands will display a yellow poster indicating that they accept these checks. Only one set of checks per person will be awarded each year. Couples can each receive their own set of checks.
For additional information, contact the Mercer County Nutrition Program for the Elderly, Senior Farmers Market Program, at (609) 989-6652.
