08/07/07 Nutrition Program Anniversary

Nutrition Program's Anniversary. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. A special assistance program that has brought fresh Oregon fruits and vegetables to thousands of needy families and seniors is celebrating its tenth anniversary: The Farm Direct Nutrition Program targets nutritionally-challenged young families and seniors, providing checks that can be spent at farmers' markets and farm stands to purchase locally grown produce. BARTON: Both the farmers and the customers love this program. It provides so much to the needy citizens who don't have access to the wide array of fresh fruits and vegetables that we grow in Oregon. Laura Barton of the Oregon Department of Agriculture says the nutrition program has grown tremendously over the past decade. BARTON: The first year we had eight markets in the state- farmers markets participating. We are now up to about 80 markets, which is fabulous. We serve over 20,000 WIC families and this year we are serving almost 29,000 seniors. In the past ten years, seven and a half million dollars have gone directly to local Oregon farmers through the federally funded nutrition program jointly administered by ODA and the Oregon Department of Human Services. State dollars contribute to the program as well. The ten year anniversary coincides with this year's Oregon Farmers' Market Week as proclaimed by Governor Kulongoski. Barton says the nutrition program does a great job of getting the right kind of healthy foods to needy families and seniors: BARTON: When you go to a farmers market or a farm stand, it's like a big rainbow of color. Those colors represent nutrients because fruits and vegetables are really high in a lot of vitamins and fiber. Barton says the Farm Direct Nutrition Program is a win-win situation for all involved. BARTON: To be able to have this as an adjunct program to our very needy citizens that provides them both with really good locally-grown food that supports local farmers as well as to provide a much needed supplement to their diet is just really valuable. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.