Providing Low-Income Seniors with Fresh, Local Food through Farmers Market Nutrition Program

Shapiro Administration Visits Fayette County Farm Providing Low-Income Seniors and Families with Fresh, Local Food through Farmers Market Nutrition Program

AUGUST 04, 2023 - BROWNSVILLE, PA

Shelia Christopher, Executive Director of Hunger-Free Pennsylvania joins Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding at the market at Dudas Farm in Brownsville, Fayette County, a participating partner in Pennsylvanias Farmers Market Nutrition Program. .In Pennsylvania, nearly two million people are struggling with hunger including nearly 500,000 children. The program, part of the Shapiro Administrations commitment to reducing hunger, provides low-income seniors and families with children with fresh, locally-grown fruit and vegetables in farm markets statewide.

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich visited the market at Duda's Farm in Brownsville, Fayette County, a participating partner in Pennsylvania's Farmers Market Nutrition Program. The program provides Pennsylvania's low-income seniors and families with vouchers to purchase fresh, local fruit and vegetables at farmers markets and farm stands statewide.

"In a state as resource-rich as Pennsylvania, no one should go hungry," Secretary Redding said. "Our Farmers Market Nutrition Programs are part of the Shapiro Administration's commitment to connecting farmers to the nearly two million Pennsylvanians who may not know where their next meal will come from, and ensuring that fresh, locally grown, nutritious food is available to them."

The commonsense, bi-partisan budget Governor Shapiro signed yesterday makes critical investments in the future of agriculture and the physical and economic health and wellbeing of Pennsylvania seniors and families. Today's historic expansion of the Property Tax or Rent Rebate program further eases the burden of rising costs on Pennsylvania's seniors.

Speakers Include:

Dawn Plummer, Food Policy Council Director

Mark Duda, Owner of Duda Farms

Shelia Christopher, Executive Director of Hunger-Free Pennsylvania

Representative Ryan Warner

Kevin Hancock, Special Advisor to the Secretary, Dept of Aging

Secretary Russell Redding

PRESS RELEASE