NORTHEY: SCHEDULE FOR 2010 FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM TRAINING ANNOUCED, INTERESTED GROWERS ENCOURAGED TO ENROLL ICN Courses Necessary for Growers Interested in Accepting Voucher
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 a 2010 training course. Growers must complete a training course before they can accept the checks.
“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.
In addition to the WIC and Senior FMNP, this year there is a WIC Cash Value Voucher program that will allow certified vendors to redeem some of the $2.2 million dollars in the new funds available to qualified families in the state.
Through this program women and children enrolled in the WIC program will receive $6 and $10 vouchers respectively for the purchase of fruits and vegetables. The Cash Value Vouchers are issued monthly for redemption in grocery stores, but the Iowa Department of Public Health will also allow these vouchers to be redeemed at farmers markets and farmstands authorized by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
“This new program presents growers with an opportunity to expand their customer base and increase sales, but they must complete one of the training sessions in order to participate,” Northey said.
Program Overview
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 FMNP 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 equal to or less than 185 % of poverty level.
The WIC/Senior FMNP and WIC Cash Value Voucher 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 dates, times and classroom sites are indicated below:
WIC/Senior FMNP and WIC Cash Value Vouchers Vendor Training Sessions
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Friday, February 19, 2010
Des Moines
Dept. of Agriculture, Wallace Building, 502 East 9th St., Auditorium
The Iowa Farmers Market Workshop will be on Saturday, February 20th, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Come to the training session on Friday and attend the workshop on Saturday. Visit www.iafarmersmarkets.org for more information.
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, March 25, 2010
Belmond
Belmond Public Library, 440 East Main Street, Crist Room
Boone
Boone High School, 500 7th Street, Room 154
Calmar
Northeast Iowa Community College, Dairy Education Center, 1527 Hwy 150 South, , Room 114
Cedar Falls
Area Education Agency, 3712 Cedar Heights Drive, ICN Room
Cedar Rapids
Kirkwood Community College, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd SW, Linn Hall, Room 107
Chariton
Chariton High School, 501 North Grand, Room 116
Charles City
North Iowa Area Community College, 200 Harwood Drive, Charles City Center, Room 106
Cherokee
Washington High School, 600 West Bluff Street, Armory Building, Fiber Optic Room
Clarinda
Iowa Western Community College, 923 East Washington, Clarinda Center, Room 306
Council Bluffs
Iowa Western Community College, 2700 College Road, Looft Hall, Room 024
Davenport
Eastern Iowa Community College, 326 West 3rd Street, Kahl Educational Center, Room 300
Donnellson
Central Lee High School, 2642 Highway 218, ICN Room
Dubuque
Keystone Area Education Agency, 2310 Chaney Road, Room 2
Elkader
Keystone Area Education Agency, 1400 2nd Street NW, ICN Room
Fort Dodge
Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency, One Triton Circle, Library Building, Room Lib. 204
Iowa City
Iowa City Public Library, 123 South Linn Street, Meeting Room D
Marshalltown
Area Education Agency, 909 South 12th Street, ICN Room
Milford
Okoboji High School, 901 H Avenue, Room 102
Orange City
Orange City Public Library, 112 Albany Avenue SE, Rieckhoff Room
Ottumwa
Ottumwa High School, 501 East 2nd, Voc. Tech. Building, Room 157
Sioux City
Sioux City Public Library, 529 Pierce Street, ICN Room
Urbandale
Urbandale Public Library, 3520 86th Street, ICN Room
Westside
Westside Jr-Sr High School, 108 Clinton Street, ICN Room
Winterset
Winterset High School, 624 W Husky Dr, North Portable Building
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Atlantic
Atlantic Public Library, 507 Poplar, ICN Room
Burlington
Burlington Public Library, 210 Court Street, ICN Room
Cedar Rapids
Kirkwood Community College, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Linn Hall, Room 107
Clinton
Clinton Community College, 1000 Lincoln Blvd., Room 105
Cresco
Crestwood High School, 1000 4th Avenue East, Room 45
Des Moines
Dept. of Workforce Development, 1000 East Grand Ave. (East of IDALS) Sign in with receptionist.
Emmetsburg
Iowa Lakes CC, 3200 College Dr., Arthur & Audrey Smith Wellness Center, Room 818
Forest City
Forest City High School, 206 W School Street, Room 328
Grundy Center
Grundy Center Community High School, 1006 M Avenue, Room 34
Guthrie Center
Mary J Barnett Memorial Library, 400 Grand, ICN Room
Ida Grove
Ida Grove Senior High School, 900 John Montgomery Drive, ICN Room
Manchester
Manchester Public Library, 304 N Franklin Street, ICN Room
Marshalltown
Area Education Agency, 909 S 12th Street, ICN Room
Newton
Newton Senior High School, 800 E 4th Street S, Room 104
Osceola
Clarke Community High School, 800 N Jackson, ICN Room
Oskaloosa
Oskaloosa Public Library, 301 South Market, ICN Room
Washington
Kirkwood Learning Center, 111 Westview Drive, ICN Room
Waverly
Waverly Public Library, 1500 West Bremer Avenue, Multipurpose Room
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Albia
Albia High School, 503 B Avenue East, Room 302
Algona
Algona High School, 600 S Hale, Room 86
Bloomfield
Davis County High School, 106 N East Street, Room 101
Des Moines
Dept. of Workforce Development, 1000 East Grand Ave. (East of IDALS) Sign in with receptionist.
Dubuque
Dubuque Downtown-Northeast Iowa Community College, 700 Main Street, Room 101
Grinnell
Grinnell Community Senior High School, 1333 Sunset Street, Room 40
Hamburg
Hamburg Jr-Sr High School, 105 E Street, Main Floor, Room 23
Harlan
Harlan High School, 2102 Durant, Room 123
Iowa Falls
Iowa Falls National Guard Armory, 217 Georgetown Road, ICN Room
Keokuk
Keokuk High School, 2285 Middle Road, Education Tech Center, ICN Room
Leon
Central Decatur High School, 1201 NE Poplar, Room 103
Maquoketa
Clinton Community College, 501 W Washington, Maquoketa Center, Room 27
Mason City
North Iowa Area Community College, 500 College Drive, Activity Center, Room 106
Muscatine
Muscatine Community College, 152 Colorado Street, Larson Hall, Room 60
New Hampton
New Hampton High School, 710 W Main, Room 210
Oelwein
Oelwein Middle School, 300 12th Avenue SE, Room 27
Red Oak
Southwestern Community College, 2300 North 4th Street, ICN Room
Rockwell City
Rockwell City-Lytton High School, 1000 W Tonawanda Avenue, Room 13
Sheldon
Northwest Iowa Community, 603 W Park Street, Building D, Room 402
Storm Lake
Buena Vista University, 610 West 4th Street, Information Technology Center, Room 7A
Tipton
Kirkwood Learning Center, 1410 North Cedar Street, Room 304
Vinton
Kirkwood Learning Center, 111 West 3rd Street, Room 106
Waterloo
Department of Human Services, 1407 Independence Avenue, Pinecrest Office Bld., ICN Room
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 4, 2010
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 29, 2010
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.
