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Oregon's
Farm Direct Nutrition Programs
Oregon’s
Farm Direct Nutrition Programs connects
WIC families and seniors with the freshest local
produce around, and with the wonderful farmers who
grow our food.
During the Farm Direct Nutrition Program selling
season, nutritionally at-risk families with young
children and seniors will be able to spend their checks on
locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, even cut
herbs with authorized farmers at farm stands as
well as farmers' markets. The 2008 Farm Direct
Nutrition Program will run June 1 through October
31.
For the 2008 season, $1.04 million are
allocated to the program. These programs are
provided by the Oregon Department of Human
Services in partnership with the U.S. Department
of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of
Agriculture.
Who
Qualifies for the FDNP?
An FDNP farmer is a person
who:
-
farms on land that he owns,
leases, rents, and/or sharecrops with other
farmers in Oregon or bordering
counties.
-
seeds, cultivates, and/or
harvest fresh fruits, vegetables, and/or cut
herbs in Oregon or a bordering county.
-
sells to FDNP participants
through the Oregon farm direct marketing
channels of farmers' markets and/or farm
stands.
How Farmers
Register for
the FDNP?
Beginning in early March, the
Oregon Department of Agriculture will send to the
2007 participating
farmers the 2008 application/agreement packets.
All farmers, whether they sell at farmers’
markets or farm stands, will fill out
and mail the applications and sign agreements.
Farmers who are new to the Farm Direct Nutrition
Program will receive a face-to-face training from
the market manager or state staff.
Within 10 business days, each
participant will receive their signed agreement,
2007 participation sign, and a farmer number stamp
from the Department of Human Services. Sign
up early!
2007 FDNP
Selling Season
The 2007 season will start June
1st and end October 31st.
Checks are redeemable between these dates with
the last date to deposit/cash checks on November
30, 2007.
2007 FDNP WIC/Senior FDNP Checks
Each eligible
WIC FDNP participants will receive ten
(10) $2 checks for a total of $20 per
season. Total 2007 WIC FDNP program will include
25,000 WIC families.
Each eligible
FDNP Seniors will receive ten dollars (10)
$3
checks, for a total of $30 per season. Senior
coupon recipients may have a family member or a
caregiver shop with their checks on their behalf.
Total 2007 Senior FDNP program will include
approximately 43,000 Seniors.
Each FDNP check will be paid to the order of
the authorized farmer. The
authorized farmers will stamp his/her
farmer number on the checks, endorse the
check, and deposit them directly into Farmer
Friendly Credit Union and Savings & Loan bank
account. Banks will not accept checks
without farmer's FDNP number. Note:
Markets will no longer be involved in the farmer
reimbursement process.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture has
developed a network of Farmer Friendly Banks,
Credit Unions and Savings & Loan banks who will accept CHECKS (no coupons) with no
additional charge to the farmers who are customers. For additional information contact Laura Barton at
503-872-6600 or lbarton@oda.state.or.us
Ineligible
Foods
-
Imported foods such as
tropical fruits
-
Processed foods - milk, jam, dried fruit or
dried herbs, baked goods, cider,
cheese
-
Non-produce foods - eggs, raw
nuts, fish, meats, honey.
-
Non-food agricultural items -
plants, seeds, cut flowers
-
Non-food items - crafts,
jewelry
Questions,
Comments, Suggestions
Oregon Farm Direct Nutrition
Program staff welcome feedback on the comment
forms. Contact the following offices for additional
information: Local WIC Customer
Service Offices: http://www.dhs.state.or.us/publichealth/
wic/countyinfo.cfm
Farmers Market eligibility and
WIC check
distribution:
Maria Menor, Oregon FDNP Coordinator
Phone: 971-673-0056
Email: maria.i.menor@state.or.us
Farmer eligibility:
Oregon Department of Agriculture
Phone: 503/872-6600
Senior eligibility and check distribution
Department of Seniors & People w/
Disabilities, 1-866-299-3562
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