FILE PHOTO – The Farmers Market Nutrition Program will start a month early thanks to increased funding.
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) – The Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) will begin operations a month earlier than normal this year, according to Agriculture Commissioner Brian P. Hurlburt.
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) program begins Saturday, June 1st and will run through November 30th.
Eligible participants can redeem their rewards for Connecticut-grown produce at certified farmers markets and farm stands.
The produce would include fresh, unprocessed fruits, vegetables and eggs. Seniors could also use the funds to purchase honey, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture said.
Participants will also receive more funding this year: WIC participants will receive $60 and eligible seniors will receive $50.
“The program’s launch on June 1 will allow participants to access a wider variety of products, including those available earlier in the season, such as strawberries,” Agriculture Commissioner Brian P. Hurlburt said in a statement.
Hurlburt said the program is important because it increases access to healthy foods for people facing food insecurity, and it’s important for Connecticut farmers because it gives them more access to transport their produce and expand their operations.
“This is truly a win-win for everyone who participates in the Farmers Market Nutrition Program,” DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani, M.D. said in a statement. “Eligible participants in the WIC program win in terms of increased funding and the ability to purchase healthy food grown right here in Connecticut. And our farmers win in terms of meeting potential new customers and seeing firsthand the difference they are making in the lives of local families.”
Jutani said he’s very grateful that the USDA moved up the start date, saying “this will be a great way to kick off the summer season here in Connecticut.”
For more information about the Farmers Market and its locations, visit the DoAg website
