By the last weeks of June, about 201 senior citizens of Virginia will become eligible for grocery coupons worth $40. These coupons can be used to pay for locally grown, fresh produce sold at Farm Fresh Markets.

This opportunity for the older residents of Virginia has been made possible by the Farm Fresh Market Senior Program. The program is sponsored by the Virginia Department of Aging, Valley Program for Aging Services and Virginia’s Department of Consumer Services and Agriculture. This program, aside from helping Senior citizens take a load off their grocery bills, also helps local farmers in Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County. All in all, Food & Nutrition Service, as well as the USDA, has allocated a total of $8040 for this Senior Citizen program.

In order to be qualified, a senior citizen must be at least 60 years old, a resident of either Staunton, Waynesboro or Augusta County and have an income every month of no more than $1,361 (for single senior residents) or $1,839 (for couples). The senior resident should also have transportation to any one of the participating Farmer’s Markets in order to pick up their coupons. For every eligible senior citizen, one coupon book will be given every market season.

The coupons that will be given out are available only for a limited period, specifically from July 1 until October 31. These coupons will also be given on a ‘first come will be first served’ basis. Before claiming the coupons, a senior citizen will have to fill out a form in order to determine their eligibility.