Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Two thousand more low-income seniors will be able to sign up for $50 of fresh, locally grown produce this season thanks to an additional $120,000 in federal funds that has been added to Maine’s popular Senior FarmShare program.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
LESA BLOOM, left, who works at Stewart’s Farm in Presque Isle, totals up Flora Cyr’s order at the farm stand Friday. Cyr is one of the many local seniors who take part in Maine’s Senior FarmShare program, which began in 2001 as part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service pilot program intended to increase access to fresh local produce for low-income seniors and to provide new markets for local farmers. Eligible seniors receive $50 of fresh, locally grown produce. More than 15,000 seniors and 145 farms participate in this statewide program.
“It’s a good program aimed at helping out the seniors,” said Danny Stewart, owner of Stewart’s Farm, located on the Houlton Road in Presque Isle. “Seniors have a limited income, so this is a big help to them.
“It’s also good for my business,” he said, “because it gives me a more guaranteed customer base. It’s a win-win situation.”
This is the eighth year that Stewart’s Farm has been involved in the FarmShare program, and this year alone, 500 senior citizens are enrolled at Stewart’s operation.
“I’m still signing people up,” said Stewart. “I’ve got some shares still available if people are interested.”
Stewart said seniors are typically interested in his strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and apples.
“We also have beet greens, Swiss chard, new potatoes, string beans, onions, cucumbers, carrots, cabbage and squash,” he said. “They like everything. Some people will use their $50 credit on just one thing like strawberries and other fresh fruit, while others spread the money around. It’s entirely up to them.”
At Stewart’s Farm, seniors have from June through October to spend their money.
“It all depends on how the farmer sets it up,” said Stewart. “Some farmers deliver the shares. I let them pick out their own; that way they don’t get something they don’t want. They can spend it all in one week or spend $5 a week. It doesn’t matter to me.”
Stewart sees senior citizens from throughout Aroostook County.
“I’ve had people come down from Madawaska before,” he said. “I also see people from Bridgewater and Houlton. They’re mostly from Presque Isle, Caribou, Easton and Mars Hill though.”
Recognizing that a lot of seniors don’t drive, Stewart said many of the people who drive the elderly to his farm stand also purchase goods while there.
“That helps my sales also,” he said. “If they stop in, they’re more likely going to buy something. At least they’ll know where it is if they decide they want something down the road. It’s a perpetual motion.”
Agriculture Commissioner Seth Bradstreet said the Senior FarmShare program has proven its worth over the past seven years.
“Not only does it provide seniors with nutritious fruits and vegetables, it provides farmers with a reliable income stream,” said Bradstreet. “This is another measure of the Baldacci Administration’s commitment to ensuring the food and fuel security of all Mainers and especially for our senior citizens.”
More than 15,000 seniors and 145 farms participate in this statewide program. Farmers offer arrangements based on where they are located and how they sell their produce. The list of participating farms is on the Web at: http://www.getrealmaine.com/connect/farmshare/senior.html. Seniors may also call their local Area Agency on Aging at 1-877-353-3771 for help in identifying a farm.
“We tend to be the contact point for a lot of people looking for the FarmShares,” said Steve Farnham, executive director of the Aroostook Area Agency on Aging. “What our experience is generally the sign-up period for it is in the spring, and there are always far more people that want to be in the program than there are available shares. A lot of people were told that there were no shares available so they couldn’t get into the program this year, but with this new allocation that came as a result of the Farm Bill that just passed, here in Aroostook County that opened up 580 additional people to the program.
“It is a popular program with older people. Fifty dollars worth of fresh vegetables and fruit doesn’t sound like much,” he said, “but for a lot of people that’s a pretty good supplement. What we like about it is it’s good, nutritious food and it’s fresh.”
A farm’s offerings are indicated on the Web site, and the farmer will explain further when contacted by a senior. Agreements are signed between the farmer and the senior. To be eligible, people must be at least 60 years old (55 for Native Americans), and have an individual income below $19,240 or $25,900 for a couple, who would each be eligible.
Maine Senior FarmShare Program began in 2001 as part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service pilot program intended to increase access to fresh local produce for low-income seniors and to provide new markets for local farmers.
The additional federal dollars will bring this year’s funding to nearly $1 million, the highest ever.
“This has been so good for so many people,” Bradstreet said. “Congress did the right thing in the new Farm Bill when they provided permanent funding for it.”
Flora Cyr of Presque Isle is one of the many local seniors who take part in the FarmShare program.
“I live at McCulley Commons,” she said, “and there are a lot of people who live here who aren’t able to go get their fruits and vegetables, so since I have a car, I say, ‘If you want something, let me know.’ They’re all registered in the program, so I take a list and get what everybody wants.
“We have 24 apartments here, and probably out of the 24 there are only four who don’t participate,” said Cyr. “When I go, I take quite a list.”
In addition to the fresh foods, Cyr said she enjoys the piece of mind in knowing where the food comes from.
“I like being able to get garden fresh fruits and vegetables from the person who grows them,” she said, “and I know they’re fresh. I don’t have to ask, ‘I wonder how long that’s been here?’ I know what I’m getting.”
Cyr said she likes to spread her purchases out over a period of time.
“I’m not hepped up on too many greens … beet greens, Swiss chard and that type of deal,” she said. “When it comes to the cucumbers, squash and potatoes … I’m more in on that than the greens. I usually start shopping in mid-July.
“It’s a great program, and I’m glad it’s offered,” said Cyr. “It’s of great benefit to the elderly.”
The Maine Senior FarmShare is a program of the Maine Department of Agriculture in partnership with the Office of Elder Services, Maine Cooperative Extension, the Maine Nutrition Network and others.
JEFFREY GIGGIE, owner of Jeffrey’s Garden, located on the Chandler Road in Presque Isle, shows Shelagh Fitzgerald of Washburn some of the carrots available at his farm stand. In addition to carrots, Giggie grows beets, green and yellow beans, red and white potatoes, broccoli, tomatoes, cabbage, corn, squash and ornamental corn. Jeffrey’s Garden is one of the half-dozen county farm stands that participate in Maine’s Senior FarmShare program.
