On Tuesday, August 16th, 30 senior citizens in Paterson joined City Green, at “Senior Day” at the Veggie Mobile at Lou Costello Park. Seniors at the event received $30 in Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (Senior FMNP) checks to use throughout the summer at the Lou Costello Farm Stand.
Residents from the Paterson Housing Authority’s Dr. Andrew McBride Senior Home walked with City Green’s staff from their residence to Veggie Mobile in Lou Costello Park. Residents and other seniors were welcomed by the Paterson Division of Senior Services where they completed applications for the Senior FMNP Checks and received their farmers market vouchers. Staff was on hand to assist seniors with the application process in English and in Spanish. Seniors then visited the City Green tent to sample farm-fresh cherry tomatoes, enjoy music, and enter a raffle to win City Green totes and other gifts. After the fun and games, Seniors were able to utilize their farmers market vouchers at the City Green Farm Stand where they purchased farm-fresh produce like peppers, onions, cantaloupe, corn, tomatoes, okara, and more!
“What we are witnessing is food access and affordability in action,” said Jasmine Moreano, City Green’s Director of Community Engagement and Advocacy. “Today over 30 senior citizens from Paterson were able to go home with fresh bags of produce that they were able to purchase using their farmers market checks and Good Food Bucks. And because they now have these benefits and incentives, they can keep coming back week after week to enjoy the seasonal produce selection at the Veggie Mobile!”
The Veggie Mobile will be at Lou Costello Park every Tuesday through November from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, offering a wide variety of affordable fruits and vegetables, all organically grown at City Green’s farms in Clifton and Mt. Olive. City Green’s full market calendar is available here.
At all City Green farm stands, markets and Veggie Mobile stops, including at Lou Costello, customers who use SNAP/EBT, WIC FMNP Vouchers, and Senior FMNP Vouchers can double their purchasing power through City Green’s Good Food Bucks program. Customers who use SNAP receive a 50% Good Food Buck discount on their fresh produce purchases total, and every time a customer spends their WIC FMNP or Senior FMNP benefits, they receive $1 in Good Food Buck coupons for more fresh produce. The Veggie Mobile accepts cash, credit, contactless payments, SNAP, Good Food Bucks, WIC FMNP, and Senior FMNP.
City Green is a 501(c)3 urban farming and gardening organization based in Clifton, New Jersey working to revitalize urban areas through agriculture and educational programming. It offers practical, technical, and financial resources in support of environmental stewardship, equitable access to healthy food, and ecologically sustainable communities. For more information contact Jasmine Moreano, Director of Community Engagement and Advocacy, or visit www.citygreenonline.org.
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