DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today encouraged Iowa fruit and vegetable growers interested in accepting checks from the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs (FMNP) to enroll in the 2009 training course.  Growers must attend a training session before they are able to accept WIC or Senior FMNP checks at farmers markets. “These programs help to provide fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs from farmers markets and farmstands to nutritionally at-risk women, infants, children and low-income seniors,” Northey said.  “The timing and content of the coursework aims to help educate vendors so they are prepared just in time for the farmers market season to begin.” Farmers Market Nutrition Programs increase the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities by giving participants access to farmers markets, and farmstands.  They are Congressionally-authorized and run through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The WIC program currently serves participants in 67 of Iowa’s 99 counties. Women and children ages 1-4 who are active participants in the program administered by the Department of Public Health are eligible for the Farmers Market Nutrition Program.  To be eligible to receive the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) benefits, Seniors must be 60 years of age or older at the time of their application, live in the service area of their local Area Agency on Aging, and have a yearly income of less than $20,036 for a single person or less than $26,955 for a married couple. The WIC/Senior FMNP training sessions will be offered via the Iowa Communications Network (ICN).  There is no cost to attend.  Seating is limited at each site, so registration is required.  The ICN dates, times and classroom sites are indicated below: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Thursday, April 2, 2009 Clarion Clarion Middle School, 300 3rd Ave. NE, ICN Room Cresco Crestwood High School, 1000 4th Ave. E, Room 45 Des Moines Dept. of Workforce Development, 1000 East Grand Ave. (Sign in with receptionist.) Marshalltown Iowa Valley CC, 3702 South Center St., Continuing Education Center, Room 806 Muscatine Muscatine CC, 152 Colorado St., Larson Hall, Room 60 Shenandoah Shenandoah High School, 1000 Mustang Dr., Ed May Center Sioux City Northwest Area Education Agency, 1520 Morningside Avenue, Room 206 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, 2009 Carroll Carroll High School, 2809 N Grant Rd., Room A169 Council Bluffs Iowa Western CC, 2700 College Rd., Looft Hall, Room 24 Des Moines Dept. of Workforce Development, 1000 East Grand Ave. (Sign in with receptionist.) Dubuque Keystone Area Education Agency, 2310 Chaney Rd., Room 2 Fort Madison Fort Madison High School, 2001 Ave. B, Room 506 Sheldon Northwest Iowa Community, 603 W. Park St., Building D, Room 402 Tipton Tipton High School, 400 E 6th St., Room 126 Waukon Northeast Iowa CC-Waukon Center, 1220 3rd Ave. NW, Suite 102, Room 112 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Thursday, April 23, 2009 Boone Ericson Public Library, 702 Greene St., ICN Room Des Moines Dept. of Workforce Development, 1000 East Grand Ave. (Sign in with receptionist.) Iowa Falls Ellsworth CC, 1100 College Ave., Reg Johnson Hall, Room 105 New Hampton New Hampton High School, 710 W Main, Room 210 Ottumwa Great Prairie Area Education Agency, 2814 N Court St., ICN Room Spencer Spencer Public Library, 21 East Third St., ICN Room Winterset Winterset High School, 624 W Husky Dr., North Portable Building 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, 2009 Elkader Keystone Area Education Agency, 1400 2nd St. NW, ICN Room Hudson Hudson High School, 245 S Washington, ICN Room Marion Marion Independent School District, 777 S. 15th St., Room 117 Osceola Osceola Public Library, 300 S Filmore St., ICN Room Pella Pella Public Library, 603 Main St., ICN Room Urbandale Urbandale Public Library, 3520 86th St., ICN Room 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Thursday, May 12, 2009 Des Moines Dept. of Agriculture, Wallace Building, 502 East 9th St., 1st Floor Conference Room 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, 2009 Des Moines Dept. of Agriculture, Wallace Building, 502 East 9th St., 1st Floor Conference Room To request a reservation for the desired training session or for more information contact Margaret Long at (515) 281-3632 or margaret.long@iowaagriculture.gov .  - 30 -