Many Laurel County Seniors live on a limited food budget that does not allow much money to be spent on fresh fruits and vegetables.  The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention reported that only about twelve percent of adults in Kentucky meet the recommendation of daily intake of fruits and only about nine percent meet recommended vegetable intake. A large body of evidence shows that healthy eating habits and regular physical activity can help people maintain good health and reduce the risk of chronic disease throughout life.  Fruits and vegetables play an important role in being healthy.

The Laurel County Cooperative Extension Assistant Senior for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education program served as distribution agent with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to disperse senior vouchers.  The Laurel County staff worked together to distribute over ten thousand dollars of vouchers to seniors in Laurel County.  The Laurel County Judge Executive also donated monies once the Department of Agriculture vouchers had been allocated. The farmers at the market also benefited from increased sales. 

Participants were very appreciative of the opportunity to buy fruits and vegetables at the farmers market.  One senior was so thrilled about freezing a few green beans to have for the winter months.  The Laurel County Cooperative Extension Service staff were enthusiastic to serve the senior community as they strive to be healthy.  The recipients received a farmers market shopper's guide to give them recipes and storage tips along with fruit and vegetable lesson handouts.