Markets & Gardens
Locally sourced foods — like those grown at home or purchased at a farmers' market — have many benefits. They are often less expensive than other options and are a great way for older adults to fill the gaps in their diets with fresh, nutritious food. Nutrition programs can provide guidance and resources to help older adults find ways to eat local.
Resources
- Seniors Farmers' Markets and Gardens
- What is Local Food?— Resource from The Labels Unwrapped Project
- Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)— Program description from USDA
- SNAP Benefits and Farmers' Markets— USDA webpage about using SNAP and SNAP-Ed at farmers' markets
- Partnerships with Food Banks and Other United States Department of Agriculture
Programs — Frequently asked questions on how Older Americans Act programs
can partner with SNAP, TEFAP, food banks, SFMNP, etc. - Farmers' Market Tips and Tricks — Making the most of shopping at the farmer's market
- Community and Personal Gardens
- Collard Greens and Common Ground: a Community Food Gardening Handbook— Award-winning guide from NC State Extension
- Healthier You with Community Gardens — Benefits of community gardens
- Plant Production and Gardening— Resources, guides, infographics, and tips about community gardens from the USDA
- Container Gardens— Excerpt from USDA's "Growing Your Own Vegetables, Part 2"
- Energize Your Life: Gardening for a Healthier You— SNAP-Ed program with gardening basics to increase consumption of fresh produce
- Gardening— Info from SNAP-Ed about gardening and SNAP benefits