Maine Senior FarmShare Program

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) receives a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to fund the Maine Senior FarmShare Program (MSFP). This program provides eligible low-income seniors the opportunity to receive a share (worth $50) of first-quality, fresh, local produce at no cost directly from local Maine farmers during the growing season.

Information For Seniors
Information For Farmers

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Information for Seniors

Participating seniors receive a share (worth $50) of first-quality, fresh, local produce at no cost from a Maine farm during the growing season.

How and When to Sign Up

• Find Authorized Farms
• Contact the Area Agency on Aging by calling 1-877-353-3771; TTY users call Maine Relay 711.
• Call the Maine Senior FarmShare Program at (207) 446-5550.
• Email SeniorFarmShare.AGR@maine.gov.
• Find a farm on the map of 2020 Maine Senior FarmShare Authorized Farms. Map is intended for general orientation and situational awareness use. Confirm directions with farm.
• Full List of Authorized Farms by County: Androscoggin / Aroostook / Cumberland / Franklin / Hancock / Kennebec / Knox / Lincoln / Oxford / Penobscot / Piscataquis / Sagadahoc / Somerset / Waldo / Washington / York

Important Notes

• Choose a farm and sign up
  • Sign-up begins in April. Don't wait! The number of available senior shares is limited and on a first come first serve basis.
  • Once a farm you chose has produce available you can begin shopping!
• Things to consider when choosing a farm:
  • Does the farm grow fruits and vegetables that you like?
  • Is the farmer close to you and easy for you to
    get to?
  • Does the farmer deliver, or do you pick up?
  • Can you choose your produce or does the farmer select?
• If you participated in the program during a prior year, you are not automatically signed up the next year.
• You may only sign up with one farm per year.
• You are not officially signed up until you complete and sign a Senior FarmShare Agreement Form with an authorized farm.
• It is the senior's responsibility to contact an authorized farm to sign up for participation in the program.

The total number of seniors who qualify for Maine Senior FarmShare Program each year significantly outnumbers the number of FarmShare's available in the program. Seniors will be put on a waiting list if the farm chosen has filled all their FarmShare's.

2020 Eligibility Requirements

Please understand that meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee you a FarmShare.

To participate in the Maine Senior FarmShare Program you must:

• Be a Maine resident
• Be 60 years old or older (55 years old or older for Native Americans)
• Meet the 2020 Income Guidelines:
  • Maximum of $23,606/per year for a one-person household; or
  • Maximum of $31,894/per year for a two-person household

Eligibility guidelines are updated annually, if you need assistance determining your eligibility you can:

• Call the Area Agency on Aging at 1-877-353-3771; TTY users call Maine Relay 711.
• Call the Maine Senior FarmShare Program at (207) 446-5550.
• Email SeniorFarmShare.AGR@maine.gov

Read the USDA Non-Discrimination Statement (PDF)

Recipes and Resources

The benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables are plentiful! For specific information on the nutritional benefits of fruits and vegetables and for recipes on the links below.

• Farm Fresh Rewards - Double your SNAP dollars! Farm Fresh Rewards provides bonus local fruits and vegetables to anyone buying local products with SNAP/EBT at participating stores. Visit farmfreshrewards.org for more information and to find a store near you or contact Shannon Grimes at Maine Farmland Trust by email at shannon@mainefarmlandtrust.org or call (207) 338-6575.
  
  
• Maine Harvest Bucks - Double your SNAP/EBT/Food Stamps at farmers’ markets, farm stands and CSA’s with Maine Harvest Bucks. Maine Harvest Bucks are known as “nutrition incentives,” which increase the value of federal nutrition assistance dollars (SNAP/EBT) spent at participating markets. For every dollar you spend with your SNAP/EBT card at a market, you’ll receive an extra “buck” in Maine Harvest Bucks to be spent on fruits and vegetables. Maine Harvest Bucks can be spent that day, or saved for later in the month or year when you want to spend them!
  
  
• Maine SNAP-Ed - Helps you shop, cook and eat healthy on a budget. Making the most of your food budget is a challenge – but with some simple tips, they can help you feed your family healthy foods and save money! For more information, e-mail Maine SNAP-Ed at mainesnap-ed@une.edu or call 207-221-4560
  
  
• USDA Food and Nutrition Service
  
  
• UMaine Cooperative Extension: Food & Health

Seniors that qualify for the Maine Senior FarmShare Program may also qualify for other benefits. For more information on other benefit opportunities:

• Contact the Area Agency on Aging by calling 1-877-353-3771; TTY user call Maine Relay 711
• Do a self-assessment test online.

Recipes

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Information for Farmers

How to Apply - For Farms Not Authorized in 2019

Opportunities for Farmers to Participate

• Are you a Maine Farmer?
• Do you grow one or more acres of mixed produce?
• Can your farm offer a minimum of 5 different produce items over an 8-week period?

If you are interested in participating in the Maine Senior FarmShare Program, and you answered yes to these three questions, you may be eligible!

The Maine Senior FarmShare Program is accepting applications for the 2020 season. To see if your farm is eligible please complete the online Participation Request Form.

Participation Request Form

 

 

Important Dates: Annual Schedule and Deadlines for Authorized Farms

Month	What's Happening & What's Due
January 1 - February	Complete annual farmer training Sign MSFP – SFMNP Farmer Agreement Form Submit Farmer Application
March	Program Manager issues first allocation of shares to all authorized MSFP farms. Share allocations are posted in MOSSA and/or mailed to farms.
April	Public information distributed Web is updated with current year authorized farms Senior participants may begin signing up for the season
April - September	MSFP begins issuing payments to farms on a weekly basis for all eligible Senior FarmShare Agreement Forms
July 31	Deadline to fill shares from first allocation or request a 30 day extension to fill remaining shares. The MSFP begins the second allocation of shares by reallocating unfilled shares.
August	During the first week in August the MSFP will post and/or mail 2nd allocation share amounts.
September 30	Final deadline to sign up senior participants. Farmers must submit all Senior FarmShare Agreement Forms by September 30th into MOSSA. (Forms that are mailed must be signed by the participant no later than September 30th to be eligible.)
October - November	End of Season reports are available in MOSSA and/or mailed to farms in the first week of October. Complete recording share redemptions in MOSSA. (All printed reports must be post marked no later than November 30th.)
December	All reimbursement checks that are due by farmers must be post marked on or before the first Friday of December. Checks are made payable to: Treasurer, State of Maine Checks must be mailed to: Maine Senior FarmShare Program 28 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333

Farmer Resources: Important Reminders, Program Information and FAQ’s for Authorized Farms

Only foods that are listed on the MSFP Eligible Foods List can be purchased with Senior FarmShare benefit funds by participating seniors.

• Eligibility Guidelines for Seniors 2020-2021 (PDF)
• Farmer Policies and Guidelines, Fiscal Year 2020 (PDF)
• Important Reminders Regarding MSFP Procedures (PDF)
• Maine Senior FarmShare Program Program FAQ’s (PDF)

Maine Online Senior Share Access (MOSSA)

• MOSSA - Access your account
• MOSSA Farmer User Manual (PDF)
• MOSSA – End of Season Instructions for Farmers (PDF)

Forms for Authorized Farms

• Eligible Foods List (PDF)
• Farmer Agreement Form (PDF)
• Farmer Application (PDF)
• Farmer Checklist (PDF)
• Proxy Form - Individual (PDF)
• Proxy Form - Multiple Seniors (PDF)
• Individual Senior Share Tracking Form (PDF)
• Senior Participant Rights and Responsibilities Form (PDF)
• Senior Participant Waiting List for the MSFP 2020 Season (PDF)
• USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF)

Farmer Training (for Previously Authorized Farms Only)

2020 Annual Training

Farmers who participated in 2019 that will be applying for the 2020 season please read the updated Maine Senior FarmShare Program (MSFP) Farmer Policies and Guidelines, Fiscal Year 2020 then open and complete the quiz.

The 2020 farmer training is a 15-question quiz.

• Questions 1-7 are from the MSFP Farmer Policies and Guidelines
• Questions 8-15 are from the Civil Rights section of the MSFP Farmer Policies and Guidelines located in Appendix A.

Complete the 2020 Farmer Training

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.