Over 17,000 seniors take advantage of program in Maine; uncertainty had threatened this season's benefits

Just hours after Congresswoman Chellie Pingree on Friday asked a top Obama Administration official about funding for a program to pay for vouchers that seniors in Maine and around the country can use to buy fresh food fromfarmers and farmers markets, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) informed state officials that the funding would be released in time for this year's growing season. At issue was the Maine Senior FarmShare program, which provides vouchers of up to $50 to use at local farmers markets. Because of a delay in passing the Farm Bill in Congress, state officials didn't know how much funding for the FarmShare program would be available, when it would become available and what sort of documentation the state would have to provide.

At an Appropriations Committee hearing on Friday, Pingree pressed USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack about the program and when funding would be released.



"A delay is the FarmShare program is especially harmful, because this is the time of year when farmers are planning for their upcoming growing season," Pingree said at the hearing. "They need to know how many seniors will be signing up for farm shares. Do you think that USDA can get the money out the door in time to help Maine farmers to plan and to guarantee that we canhave the program this year?"

USDA officials responded quickly to Pingree's questions, and later that day sent a notice to state Departments of Agriculture detailing exact funding levels and guaranteeing that programs like Maine Senior FarmShare would be funded as long as state officials submitted a simple letter of intent byApril 15. Due to sequestration cuts, the funding level that Maine is eligible for will be about 10% less than last year.

"I'm glad we could get the Department of Agriculture to act quickly and let Maine know how much money was available for this valuable program so it can go forward this season and so both farmers and seniors who take advantage of it know what to expect," Pingree said.