by MEG FRASER
Farm Fresh Eats
IN THE GARDEN
In Rhode Island, only 1 percent of food that residents consume is produced locally. But as the local food movement continues to take root, and the state’s agriculture industry experiences a renaissance, healthy, organic, locally-grown food is finding its way onto more plates. Nowhere is this phenomenon more evident than at farmers markets. A tradition that not long ago was struggling in the Ocean State, now yields more than 50 markets in the summer and annual additions to the winter marketplace, courtesy of the more than 1,200 working farms statewide. Ken Ayars, chief of the state’s Division of Agriculture, called the growth “meteoric.” “We’ve seen a proliferation of farmers markets across the state over the last 15 years,” he said. “They’re becoming more normal places to shop.” Seniors, he adds, are an important part of that, particularly through the state’s Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which provides incentives to seniors to take advantage of the rich landscape of farm fresh shopping. “There’s two main missions. One is supporting the agricultural community. These coupons can be redeemed at farmers markets and roadside stands, and the money goes right into the pockets of farmers,” explained Ayars. “The second mission is to support the senior community.”
Run by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s (DEM) Division of Agriculture, the program is supported by the state’s Department of Elderly Affairs (DEA). DEM secures funds for the coupons from the USDA and distributes them to Elderly Affairs. Elderly Affairs then taps into its network of senior centers to distribute coupons worth $15 per individual. Last year, the program reached 18,734 seniors. Traditionally, in order to receive coupons, you must be a Rhode Island resident, age 60 or older and earn no more than 185 percent of the poverty level. In 2012, handicapped people living in elderly housing were also included in the program. In addition to providing coupons that get seniors to the markets, the DEA’s Nutritional Specialists run informational meetings at senior meal sites around the state to emphasize the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables as part of a balanced diet. Getting that message across is especially important, Ayars said, because many seniors are on fixed incomes and might be discouraged by the high cost of produce. “Locally produced food tends to be higher priced – that’s a fact,” he said. However, as agriculture grows stronger, he says there won’t be as much of a price difference. “There’s no way we can match the availability of food at Stop & Shop, but I think what the public recognizes is that the food that comes to us in the off-season is often coming to us from thousands and thousands of miles away. When you know where your food comes from ... it’s better for our diets and our health in general.” Participation in the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program continues to be strong. Eighty-three percent of Senior Farmers Market Coupons that were distributed last year were cashed in. Those coupons were accepted by 175 farmers at 46 farmers markets and 20 roadside stands throughout the state. “Seniors seem to embrace it,” Ayars said. While he believes seniors are just as attuned to the local food movement as anyone else, he says there are added benefits – benefits that can be seen watching seniors mingle as they visit the booths of farms in their backyards. “It’s as much a social issue as anything else,” he said. “It’s a chance to get to a market and meet with friends. Markets seem to be a center of communities.”
Ken Ayars of DEM at Casey Farm (photo by Meg Fraser)
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