Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that the state New Mexico has been awarded a $337,004 grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help provide low-income seniors with greater access to locally grown fresh, unprepared fruits, herbs and vegetables.

Funding, which was awarded through the USDA's Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, will be used to provide low-income seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for fresh produce at farmers' markets.

"The Senior Farmers' Market program provided seniors with healthy, locally grown fruits and vegetable while supporting New Mexico producers," Bingaman said.

Additionally, Five Sandoval Indian Pueblos, Inc. will receive $19,240 and the Pueblo of San Felipe will receive $17,474 through the same USDA program.

Bingaman strongly supported the 33 percent increase in funding for the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program in the recently passed Farm Bill that allowed New Mexico to be added to the program.