Health Bucks coupons accepted at Millerton Farmers Market

HARLEM VALLEY — The North East Community Center (NECC) is addressing barriers to healthy eating by launching Health Bucks through a donation from Sharon Hospital. The goal of Health Bucks is to help families purchase fresh, locally grown produce and increase food stamp use at local farmers markets. Health Bucks are $2 coupons that may be used on fresh fruits and vegetables at the Millerton Farmers Market, which is sponsored by NECC, and the Amenia Farmers Market.The goal is to make the food available to everyone. NECC was one of the first markets in Dutchess County to accept food stamps and WIC checks.The Millerton Farmers Market will be distributing Health Bucks to food stamp users at the market manager stand. When customers spend $5 in food stamp benefits, they will receive a $2 Health Bucks coupon. Income- eligible families will also be able to receive a limited number of Health Bucks through the following area organizations: Astor Services for Children and Families in Millerton, Community Action Partnership, with offices in Dover Plains, and at NECC in Millerton and Hudson River Healthcare in Amenia.“We are happy to partner with the NECC team on the farm market Health Bucks project,” said Jill Musselman, director of Marketing and Public Relations at Sharon Hospital. “Fresh, local produce will now be readily available to everyone because of this innovative program.”In addition to providing Health Bucks as a financial incentive to customers, the Millerton Farmers Market will also be distributing “Quick and Healthy Meals — Seasonal Recipes for Everybody,” a cookbook printed in partnership between the Eastern Dutchess Rural Health Network and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Dutchess County. This cookbook will help Health Bucks recipients prepare meals featuring seasonal ingredients like kale, broccoli, apples, peaches, squash and spinach. Cooking demonstrations at the Millerton Farmers Market are scheduled throughout the season. For an up-to-date schedule, visit www.neccmillerton.org.The Millerton Farmers Market runs every Saturday until Oct. 29, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is located on the corner of Dutchess Avenue and Main Street. The Amenia Farmers Market runs every Friday until Oct. 28, from 3 to 7 p.m. in the Town Hall parking lot, off Route 22, just north of the main intersection at routes 343, 44 and 22.For more information, email betseymccall@gmail.com or call NECC at 518-789-4259.Submitted by Jenny Hansell, executive director of the North East Community Center.