Buffalo, NY – Mayor Byron W. Brown and the City of Buffalo Division of Senior Services today teamed up with volunteers from Tesla at Riverbend on Mayor Brown’s Farmers Market Initiative, preparing and delivering home-grown fresh fruit and vegetables to eligible seniors.
Mayor Brown stated, “As we continue to build an inclusive and accessible city of opportunity for all people, regardless of age, I am pleased to again continue my Farmers Market Project by packaging and delivering fresh produce to over 300 City Seniors. All residents deserve access to fresh, healthy, locally-sourced food and I thank the volunteers from Tesla at Riverbend for assisting the Division of Senior Services on this important initiative which ensures that homebound/low-income seniors, who aren’t always able to frequent neighborhood farmers markets or supermarkets, can receive fresh produce.”
He continued, “Whether it’s through preserving and producing affordable housing, building programs that make it easier to age in place, or investing in health and wellness initiatives, we will continue to do all we can to create a more inclusive, age-friendly city.”
Mayor Brown launched his “Farmers Market Project” ten years ago to ensure that City seniors in communities where household incomes are low and food options are scarce, receive fresh fruits and vegetables. The program serves seniors across the city who are homebound, live below the poverty level, or are at high risk for nutritional deficiencies.
In late August, Mayor Brown and the Division of Senior Services – in partnership with 9 Community Centers – reached out to eligible seniors and asked them to fill out a survey which included a checklist of produce to choose from, including potatoes, onions, peaches, corn, apples, swiss chard and peas. This year, the produce was ordered through Urban Fruits & Veggies.
Mayor Brown’s Division of Senior Services also partners with Farmers Markets to offer healthy items to low- income seniors throughout the city. Seniors can also get farmers’ market vouchers during the summer months.