Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

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

Funding, which was awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 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, roadside stands and community-supported agriculture programs.

“Greater access to fresh produce is vital to helping promote better nutrition and health.  This funding will allows seniors struggling to make ends meet to buy local produce,” Bingaman said.

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