Milwaukee County's low-income seniors may struggle to afford fresh produce. But this program is a big help.

The Hunger Task Force wants to make sure Milwaukee County seniors have fresh fruits and vegetables in their diets.

The local food bank is providing 1,760 $45 vouchers to low-income seniors , which can be used to buy produce at participating farmers markets, roadside produce stands and community-supported agriculture programs.

“Access to fresh produce is a significant issue for seniors, in particular, in our community,” Hunger Task Force CEO Matt King said.

About one in eight adults over 60 in Milwaukee County live below the poverty level, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Often, King said, low-income seniors must choose between buying groceries, buying their prescriptions or keeping a roof over their heads.

The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program helps provide access to healthy fresh produce. That’s important, King said, because access to high-quality foods is a social determinant of health.

The vouchers are federally funded and Milwaukee County received an initial allotment of 5,011 of them. They're available while supplies last and can be used through October. They also can be used in conjunction with FoodShare, Wisconsin's food stamp program .

“It's a significant amount of money for low-income seniors to be able to improve their nutrition and have access to fresh produce,” King said.

“It is a limited resource. So we want to encourage people to either come to one of these distributions or to apply as soon as possible to ensure that they have access.”

Another benefit to the program comes on the back end. It also helps Wisconsin farmers and growers.

“The more we can invest into Wisconsin-produced foods, the stronger our economy is going to be,” King said. “So wherever possible, we want to focus our buying power and focus our resources on supporting local producers because this really is an impactful program for them, too.”

To apply, eligible seniors must meet certain income and age requirements. Seniors must be 60 or older, or 55 and older for Indigenous elders. Seniors must earn no more than 185% of the federal poverty level. That's a monthly income of about $2,322 for a single household. But new this year, each senior in a household can receive a voucher.

“That's a change from years past, where it used to be that it was one set of vouchers per household,” King said.

The Hunger Task Force is accepting applications online, by mail or at in-person distribution events. The next in-person distribution event is Wednesday, July 17, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Abundant Faith Church of Integrity, 7830 W. Good Hope Rd.

The in-person events double as a mini vendor fair where residents can sign up for Medicare, Medicaid or FoodShare.

At a recent distribution event at the Wilson Park Senior Center, 2601 W. Howard Ave., the Hunger Task Force gave 340 vouchers to seniors.

Ljiljana Nikolic got one of them. She left the center knowing what she plans to buy with her voucher — tomatoes and peppers. They're key ingredients to make a dish from Serbia, her home country, called Bećarac. It’s made with onions, peppers and tomatoes, topped with eggs. It’s a meal the entire family enjoys, she said.

Maurice Tolbert plans to hit the first farmers market he finds to buy watermelon, cantaloupe, collard greens and corn. The assistance, he said, “means the world to me.”

Nancy Kolp came to pick up a voucher for her 93-year-old father, Henry. Her dad, she said, has used the farmers market voucher program for a couple of years.

“My dad lives on his Social Security … and he depends on it,” Kolp said.

When they go shopping, lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes are always on the list. Kolp said her dad loves making salad.

“Compared to eating canned food, fresh vegetables are always nutritious and healthier for him,” Kolp said. “It is a huge, huge plus. I am very thankful they offer the program. We take advantage of it. A lot of people should.”

Ronald Butler came to the Wilson Center with his cousin, Carl’ess Simmons. Both have medical ailments requiring them to be conscious of what they eat. Butler said he likes getting fresh produce directly from farms.

“When you buy it at the supermarket, it's real sketchy,” he said. “When you are getting it from the market, it actually lasts longer so you know it is a lot more healthier. As you get older, you get more health-conscious about putting things into your body.”

The grocery list for Butler, a former chef, includes green vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Simmons quipped she plans to buy vegetables and fruits like her cousin — except Brussels sprouts.

She buys mostly fruits and vegetables because she rarely eats meat. So her list contains apples, avocados and cherries, which she said are very expensive.

The voucher, she added, “would help a lot.”

Live outside Milwaukee County? Click this link for contact information for your local agency to apply for vouchers in your area.

LaRisa Lynch is a community affairs reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Email her at llynch@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee County's low-income seniors may struggle to afford fresh produce. But this program is a big help.