Low-income children cut from food program
Thursday, June 22, 2006
By Joe Fahy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Thousands of low-income Pennsylvania families with young children will receive less help this summer from a government program that allows them to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from farmers' markets.
State officials said cuts in federal funding have prompted them to eliminate children younger than 4 from participating in the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.
At least 40,000 children eligible for the program are affected, said Barry Shutt, director of food distribution for the state Department of Agriculture.
The change means families who qualify for a program known as WIC, which provides assistance to low-income pregnant women, new mothers and their children, will be able to purchase less food through the farmers' market program.
In Pennsylvania, that program allows each woman enrolled in WIC to purchase $20 worth of certain fresh fruits and vegetables from farmers' markets during the spring and summer months. In the past, the state also provided $20 for each child up to age 5.
But 2- and 3-year-olds will not be eligible this year because of funding cuts, state officials said. They said 2-year-olds also were ineligible last year, though they later could qualify after more federal funding became available.
Jean Daniel, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said she did not know if additional federal funds would be available this year.
Pennsylvania expected to receive $1.62 million in federal funds for the farmers' market program this year, down from $2.31 million last year.
Without more funds, the state had to make cuts in the program, Mr. Shutt said. He noted that it will continue to serve mothers who receive WIC and their 4-year-old children. The program also serves seniors.
Berry Friesen, executive director of the Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center, questioned the cuts, noting that officials are concerned about improving nutrition for young people and also have sought to promote Pennsylvania agriculture.
For those reasons, paring back the farmers' market program doesn't make sense, Mr. Friesen said, noting that his group has asked state lawmakers to provide more funding.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
By Joe Fahy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Thousands of low-income Pennsylvania families with young children will receive less help this summer from a government program that allows them to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from farmers' markets.
State officials said cuts in federal funding have prompted them to eliminate children younger than 4 from participating in the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.
At least 40,000 children eligible for the program are affected, said Barry Shutt, director of food distribution for the state Department of Agriculture.
The change means families who qualify for a program known as WIC, which provides assistance to low-income pregnant women, new mothers and their children, will be able to purchase less food through the farmers' market program.
In Pennsylvania, that program allows each woman enrolled in WIC to purchase $20 worth of certain fresh fruits and vegetables from farmers' markets during the spring and summer months. In the past, the state also provided $20 for each child up to age 5.
But 2- and 3-year-olds will not be eligible this year because of funding cuts, state officials said. They said 2-year-olds also were ineligible last year, though they later could qualify after more federal funding became available.
Jean Daniel, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said she did not know if additional federal funds would be available this year.
Pennsylvania expected to receive $1.62 million in federal funds for the farmers' market program this year, down from $2.31 million last year.
Without more funds, the state had to make cuts in the program, Mr. Shutt said. He noted that it will continue to serve mothers who receive WIC and their 4-year-old children. The program also serves seniors.
Berry Friesen, executive director of the Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center, questioned the cuts, noting that officials are concerned about improving nutrition for young people and also have sought to promote Pennsylvania agriculture.
For those reasons, paring back the farmers' market program doesn't make sense, Mr. Friesen said, noting that his group has asked state lawmakers to provide more funding.
