Seniors and Farmers in Powell County value the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.  The program provides residents who meet economic threshold and age guidelines, market vouchers worth 48 dollars.   Seniors use the vouchers as cash at the Powell County Farmers’ Market and the farmers return the vouchers to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture for reimbursement.  The program is a win-win providing seniors access to locally produced nutrition while supporting our local farmers and economy.  

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture encouraged markets to develop ways to increase redemption rates and the number of vouchers a county will receive.  The Powell County Ag and Natural Resource Agent in his role as the Market Manager for the Powell County Farmers’ Market Initiated Market Days at the Extension Office.  Market vendors set up in the parking lot while Seniors were applying for their vouchers.   Seniors walked out of the extension office with 48 dollars to spend and options to spend that money.  Several recipients commented, “It is hard to get to town, so I would prefer to spend it all and can or freeze what I can’t eat now.”   

Market Days have had a dramatic effect on the money spent at the Powell County Farmers’ Market.  In 2021, 60 percent of the vouchers were spent, by 2022 that number was 75 percent.  The 2024 market redemption rate was 84 percent.  Market Days has been successful in increasing seniors' access to fresh fruits and vegetables and increasing net farm income.