Tuesday was the first day of this summer’s Georgia Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program in Fulton County, an opportunity for senior citizens to gain more access to fresh foods in their community.
Several people who walked in at the Dorothy C. Benson Senior Multipurpose Complex in Sandy Springs were welcomed with a large spread of fruits and veggies, such as peaches and sweet potatoes.
It’s an essential service, said long-time Sandy Springs resident Maradese Duncan. In Georgia, the Atlanta Community Food Bank reported at least 8% of people 60 and older suffer from food insecurity.
“A lot of us are on fixed income, you know … even though we’re retired or whatever,” she said. “But whatever they offer, it’s a help.”
Her husband, Michael Duncan, agrees.
“When they do stuff like this, it makes a big difference. They may not see it, but people don’t come up here for nothing,” he said.
Kennise Elder, owner of the Georgia Roots Urban Farm, LLC, in Sycamore, Georgia, says she’s provided produce to the senior nutrition program for five years. The farm is Black-owned and smaller-scale, making Elder’s operation a rarity. In 2022, the USDA reported that only 815 Black female farmers reside in Georgia.
“Farms require revenue, just like any other business,” Elder said, noting that working with the county has greatly helped her business.
“You’re typically not going to be involved in, say, like grocery store contracts. So it gives you another opportunity.”
Fulton County’s nutrition coordinator, Brandy Coffee, said the county chose Georgia Roots for the program because of its large variety of produce and professional customer service.
The Georgia Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program is funded by the federal government. The state then distributes the money to local agencies that work with aging adults.
People with limited incomes, primarily 60 and older, can apply for a 50-dollar voucher to purchase food from the markets. At-home applications are also available for disabled individuals.
Fulton County plans to hold three more events for the Georgia Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. The last farmers’ market will be on July 18 in East Point.
