Senior Project Fresh: Free Coupons To Purchase Michigan Grown Fruits And Vegetables

Kalamazoo, Mich.- Fresh Michigan produce will be arriving this summer at area Farmer’s Markets. Once again Kalamazoo County MSU Extension; Senior Services, INC.; Women, Infants and Children (WIC); and USDA will offer Senior Project Fresh. Senior Project Fresh provides nutrition education, as well as coupons for free Michigan grown fresh fruits and vegetables to eligible seniors.

The primary goal of Senior Project Fresh is to educate and inspire seniors to improve the quality of their diets through the addition of fresh produce and to promote the purchase of locally grown produce by linking farmers and consumers at the Farmer’s Market. Eligible seniors must be 60 years of age or older, live in Kalamazoo County, and have incomes at 185% or below the poverty level. Coupons will be given out on a first come/first serve basis until they are gone.

Senior Project Fresh coupons will be distributed on Tuesday and Thursday, July 24th and 26th, from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Senior Services and MSU Extension will be at the Kalamazoo Farmer’s Market (formerly Bank St. Market) to engage seniors in fun, informative experiences that will increase their knowledge of nutrition, the use of fresh produce in the diet, and proper food safety. Learning will occur in the relaxing, stimulating and social atmosphere of the open-air Farmer’s Market. Master Gardener volunteers will be on hand to assist with the educational activities.

Eligible senior participants will receive a booklet of coupons to redeem for fresh produce at merchants displaying the Project Fresh sign, along with a bag to carry their purchases. The coupon booklets have a $20.00 value; each booklet contains ten $2.00 coupons. No money will be exchanged during the Project Fresh transaction. Coupons can be used at any designated Michigan Farm Market or roadside produce stands displaying the Project Fresh sign and are redeemable until October 31, 2007.

Seniors will find this event enjoyable and fun while learning how to increase healthy fruits and vegetables in their diet at a reasonable cost. For information on this, or any other MSU Extension, program please call (269) 383-8830.

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MSU Extension is an Affirmative-Action Equal-Opportunity Institution. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status.

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