Farmers market vouchers reduced

Farmers market vouchers are available for seniors meeting income requirements through the Connections Area Agency on Aging.
 Vouchers can be used at participating area Farmers Markets to buy $50 worth of fresh, locally grown fruit, vegetables, herbs and honey. The vouchers are valid June 1 through Oct. 31.
Officials with Connections Area Agency on Aging said they will not be able to distribute vouchers at the same level as in previous years. The USDA provided Connections with 1,900 sets of vouchers in 2024. This year they received 750 sets of vouchers for its 20-county service area.
Sherri Carson, director of healthy living programs for the Connections Area Agency on Aging, said for the Council Bluffs/Creston area, which also serves Montgomery County, 375 vouchers will be available.
“Of the 1,900 vouchers we got in 2024, I think we did around 800 vouchers just in this area and as we said, we’re getting 375 now. The distribution will be conducted through a randomized selection process.  Since we’ve got more people than we can serve with vouchers this year, we’re not accepting new applications for 2025,” Clark said.
Clark added that every year the agency gets a funding cut, and/or doesn’t receive certain funding, so this year is no exception.
“This is actually a Department of Agriculture program.  Our agency is the vehicle that distributes them to the senior population. Every year on May 1 is when the Department of Agriculture knows how many vouchers that they’re able to fund to give to us to provide to the seniors. This year it was just one of those programs under the new administration that got cut,” explained Carson. The distribution of vouchers this year also factored in last year’s voucher redemption rate of 73%.
Applications will automatically be mailed to anyone that received vouchers in 2024.
Individuals will randomly be selected to receive farmers market vouchers; only one set of vouchers per household.
Applicants must complete an application and meet eligibility criteria in order to receive vouchers.
With the limited number of vouchers available, anyone who participated last year is urged to get their application completed and returned no later than May 30. The farmers market distribution will be done by mail only.
Officials with Connections Area Agency on Aging urge the public to speak out about the cuts to the program and encourage them to voice their support by contacting members of Congress and sharing why the program is important to them.
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst’s Washington, D.C. office number is (202) 224-3524; U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn’s Washington, D.C. office number is (202) 225-5476. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley can be reached at his Washington, D.C. office by calling  (202) 224-3744. Lastly, Randy Feenstra can be contacted at his Washington, D.C office at (202) 225-4426.
The Live Well Montgomery County Farmers Market, which is being split every other Friday between Red Oak and Stanton, will hold its first market from 3 to 6:30 p.m. May 23 in Stanton. Jan Castle-Renander with Renander Farms will participate in the LWMC markets.
“Vendors have to apply for themselves. For the market to be eligible, we have to have three registered vendors. Those wanting to use the vouchers would just have to check with each individual vendor, and if a vendor is participating, they will have a sign on their table very clearly identified that they are,” said Castle-Renander.
Castle-Renander added that she will be accepting vouchers and selling produce as her garden allows.
Shad Swanson, who operates Garden of Paradise, has said that he will also be available to provide produce to low-income seniors on the program, making him the second confirmed produce vendor at the markets.
“I plan to attend both markets two to three times a month. I am already registered for the season,” commented Swanson.
Another produce vendor that has been a part of the farmers market in the past, The Freed Family Farm, will be the third confirmed participant, and will be accepting senior and WIC vouchers during the markets.
Steve Turman with Resilient Farms said due to circumstances, they would likely not be a vendor at the markets this year, but were hopeful to return to the market in 2026.