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. This program provides low-income seniors the chance to receive a free 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 Participating Farmers
Information For New Farmers

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Information for Seniors

How and When to Sign Up

• Seniors sign up directly with a participating farmer each year beginning in April.
  • To find participating farms in your area:
    • Call the Maine Senior FarmShare Program at 207-287-7526
    • Email Maine Senior FarmShare at SeniorFarmShare@maine.gov
    • Contact the Area Agency on Aging by calling the ELDERS-1 toll free number at 1-877-353-3771
    • 2019 Participating Farms - Search for a participating farm by county.
      • Androscoggin (PDF)
      • Aroostook (PDF)
      • Cumberland (PDF)
      • Franklin (PDF)
      • Hancock (PDF)
      • Kennebec (PDF)
      • Knox (PDF)
      • Lincoln (PDF)
      • Oxford (PDF)
      • Penobscot (PDF)
      • Piscataquis (PDF)
      • Sagadahoc (PDF)
      • Somerset (PDF)
      • Waldo (PDF)
      • Washington (PDF)
      • York (PDF)
• If you participated in a prior year, you are not automatically signed up the next year.
• You may choose a different farm each year, however you may only sign up with one farm per year.
• You are not officially signed up until you complete and sign an agreement with a farmer.
• It is the senior's responsibility to contact a local farmer to sign up for participation in the program.

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

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

2019 Eligibility Requirements

To participate in the Maine Senior FarmShare Program you must:

• Be a Maine resident
• 60 years old or older

-AND-

Must have a gross annual household income (including all pensions, social security and other payments) of no more than 185% of the poverty level (see below):

• Maximum of $22,459/per year for a one-person household; or
• Maximum of $30,451/per year for a two-person household

Eligibility guidelines are updated annually, if you need assistance determining your eligibility to participate in the Maine Senior FarmShare Program, you can:

• Call the Maine Senior FarmShare Program at 207-287-7526
• Email SeniorFarmShare@maine.gov
• Call the Area Agency on Aging by calling the ELDERS-1 toll-free number at 1-877-353-3771.

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 the ELDERS-1 toll free number at 1-877-353-3771 or
• Do a self-assessment test online.

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 click 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
  

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Information for New Farmers

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 full and no longer accepting new farmer applications for the 2019 season.

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Participating Farmers

The Maine Senior FarmShare Program is now online!

• Register and access your account in MOSSA
• Download the MOSSA Training Guide (PDF)

Important Reminders for Farmers

• Farmer Applications must be submitted in MOSSA by January 31
• All participating farmers are required to complete the Maine Senior FarmShare Program Guideline Training every year prior to submitting the application.
• Senior sign-up begins April 1.
  

Farmer Resources

• MOSSA - Access your account
• Notification of Email Address Change - Request to register your email address for MOSSA.
• 2019 Program Guidelines Training Video
• Income Eligibility Guidelines (PDF)

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.