The South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS) has announced the return of the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program on June 1, providing financial assistance to low-income seniors to purchase fresh, local produce.
The seasonal initiative aims to supplement the diets of older residents while bolstering the state’s agricultural economy. Funded by a seasonal grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the program will expand to all 46 South Carolina counties this year. Approved participants will receive $50 via five $10 paper checks to buy unprocessed fruits and vegetables at authorized farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and mobile markets.
Applications and check distributions are handled strictly on a first-come, first-served basis in an applicant’s county of residence. To qualify for the program, South Carolina residents must meet the following criteria:
-
Be at least 60 years of age.
-
Provide a legal form of identification and report their household size.
-
Have an annual household income of $28,953 or less for an individual, or $39,128 or less for a two-person household.
Eligible seniors must apply in person at a designated distribution site within their home county. Once approved, participants will receive their checks on the same day.
Sign up for our Sunday Spectator. Delivered to your inbox every Sunday, with all the news from the week.
