Program encourages healthy eating for all

OXFORD HILLS — A statewide program is encouraging seniors on low, fixed incomes to eat healthy.

Enrollment for the Department of Agriculture's (DOA) Maine Senior FarmShare program began on March 7. People who sign up for the program will have access to fresh products from 120 farms across the state. The program is part of the DOA's Get Real Maine campaign, designed to encourage residents to buy and eat local produce.

"Maine seniors, age 60 or older... with individual incomes below $20,147 (individual) and $27,214 (couples) are eligible to receive $50 of free fresh locally grown vegetables, fruits, and herbs during the upcoming season through the Maine Senior FarmShare Program," reads a statement released by the DOA.

"The program serves seniors by providing access to highly nutritious fresh produce, which many seniors find difficult to afford on limited incomes. It also provides an additional retail market for Maine vegetable and fruit growers who are paid in the spring for produce they will provide later in the season."

A number of Oxford Hills area farms are participating in the program, including Chipman Farm and Verrill's vegetable stand in Poland, Maple Springs in Harrison, Weston's farm stand in Fryeburg, Vegetables Dance in Bethel, and Crestholm Farm and Smedberg's Crystal Spring Farm in Oxford.

Participating farms receive the money from the state at the beginning of the season and are expected to have a variety of fruits and vegetables available to those seniors receiving shares.

It is important to recipients, farmers and the state alike that each participant receives their full share. Otherwise, they will leave a potentially important resource untapped, the farms will have to reimburse the state, and the DOA will have to reexamine their funding methods for the next year.

Most farms make their offerings available at the farm or a farm stand, and a few participate in local farmers markets. Smedbergs and Crestholm farms in Oxford both offer their produce at the Norway Farmers Market, and will allow seniors to fill their shares there.

Deedee Estes of Crestholm Farm values the experience that comes with participating.

"It's a lot of fun to do it through the farmer's market," she says. "We get to meet a lot of different people and provide them with vegetables."

Gayle Smedberg has been running Smedberg's Farm on Main Street in Oxford since 1967, and has been involved with the FarmShare program since its inception. She thinks the program has had a positive effect on seniors, encouraging them to eat healthy despite escalating prices.

"A lot of them are older and they remember when corn was two dozen for a dollar or they could just grow it themselves in their garden," she says. As a result, seniors may tend to compare the current prices to the older ones in their head and be discouraged from purchasing the fresh, healthy fare provided by local farms.

The FarmShare program, says Smedberg, helps to rectify that problem while also providing farmers with a wider customer base.

"It's very good for the seniors and very good for the farmers," she says.

The DOA recommends that interested individuals contact the Area Agency on Aging at 1-877-353-3771 to find the nearest participating farm. Those qualified will be enrolled on a first-come, first-serve basis, with all those who call later being placed on a waiting list.