The Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program provides eligible low-income seniors with redeemable vouchers for fresh, unprocessed local fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs at approved Farmer’s Markets. This program helps improve nutrition for low-income seniors, by providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The program also increases local farm sales and encourages individuals to shop at the local Farmers Market.  The voucher system provides $50 on a debit card to each eligible senior citizen. 

This year the Hardin County Extension Horticulture Agent accepted the responsibility to market the Senior Voucher program and distribute them to qualified Hardin County residents. The agent set up at the local farmers markets and contacted the local food bank to spread the word. This was the sixth year for the Senior Farmers Market Vouchers to be distributed. One hundred (100) debit cards were dispersed to seniors (increase of 10%). Of those people receiving the vouchers 47 disclosed they had not shopped at the farmers market before. The potential increase in sales at the local farmers market is $5000 plus the added benefit of the Double Dollars program can double the revenue into the market to $10,000.

For the 2022 season, the market redeemed 84% of the vouchers distributed for a total of $3594 of additional revenue to the farmers.