MOUNT MORRIS, N.Y., June 17, 2024 — Livingston County veterans and their families are eligible to receive up to $50 in free farmers market vouchers per household annually through the FreshConnect Checks Program, a New York State initiative aimed at helping residents purchase fresh, healthy foods from local sources.
The FreshConnect Checks Program first launched in 2011 and became available to veterans and their families in 2014. Currently, the Lima Farmers Market is the only location accepting these vouchers in Livingston County. However, veterans can use the vouchers at any participating farmers market throughout the state, said Livingston County Veteran Services Agency Director David Terry.
“I’m very proud that we can offer this service to any veteran and their immediate family and grateful for Lima’s farmers market to champion this program,” he said. “I hope this grows locally and more farmers markets and farmer stands will participate in the future.”
Livingston County Veteran Services Agency supports the program and offers FreshConnect vouchers to those qualified at their Mount Morris location. Each voucher is worth $2 toward Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligible food items. The County Veteran Services Agency will first provide $20 worth of vouchers to veterans and their immediate family. Once spent, veterans may return for an additional $30 in FreshConnect vouchers.
“It is vital that if veterans participate, they agree to spend the vouchers in order for the process to work,” said Terry. “Any vouchers received that are not spent may go against what is allotted to us next year by the state.”
There are more than 700 farmers market locations in New York State where customers may spend their FreshConnect vouchers with vendors selling SNAP-eligible food items. These foods include eggs, pasta, honey, maple syrup, dairy products, baked goods, breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, meats, fish and poultry, seeds or plants that will grow to produce food, and more. Vouchers are not redeemable for cash or change.
The Lima Farmers Market is open every Tuesday from 3-6 p.m. at 7295 West Main Street, Lima, NY, from June 22 to October 22, 2024.
To arrange pickup of FreshConnect vouchers, please contact Sara McDonald of Veteran Services at (585) 243-7960. The Livingston County Veteran Services Agency is located at 7 Murray Hill Dr., Mount Morris, NY, 14510, and online at https://www.livingstoncounty.us/275/Veteran-Services.
To find local farmers markets in New York, visit https://agriculture.ny.gov/farmersmarkets.
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About Livingston County:
Founded in 1821, Livingston County, N.Y., is home to more than 61,000 residents in 17 towns located across 631 square miles of the Finger Lakes region.