FARMINGTON – The Senior FarmShare program provided 18,000 Maine seniors with fresh fruits and vegetables last year, said Debbie Everett from the Maine Department of Agriculture.

Seniors participating get $50 of fresh, unprocessed produce from local farmers over a 10-week period, she said.

Local farmer Bonnie Clark has participated in the program over the past four years and has all the seniors she can handle.

Only three farmers from Franklin County participated last year, she said.

Farmers are reimbursed for each senior they sign up in the spring when they are looking to buy seed, Clark told other farmers who met earlier this month.

The program is geared toward helping seniors while prompting farmers to grow more food, Clark said.

Participants must be 60 or over, live here when the produce is ready and have an income of less than $20,036 per year for a single or $26,955 for a couple, Everett said.

Farmers apply to the department to participate, providing proof they can produce the extra crops and then receive forms to sign up seniors. Some seniors pick up produce at the farm or a farmers market, but some farmers will deliver if several seniors living in a complex sign up, she said.

Seniors can find out which farmers are participating after March 4 by calling the Area Agency on Aging, 1-877-353-3771 or find out more about the program at www.getrealmaine.com/connect/senior.html