The chair of the state Senate’s Agriculture Committee, Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, says money included in this year’s state budget will help provide farm-fresh fruits and vegetables from area farmers’ markets to 2,700 seniors in her district from St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Oswego counties.

Ritchie, whose district covers the western half of St. Lawrence County including Ogdensburg, Canton and Gouverneur, said the plan is “a way to boost nutrition and healthy eating, while at the same time helping to strengthen the bottom lines of New York farmers.”

Ritchie sought the new funding for the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which gives $20 coupons to low-income seniors that can be redeemed at Farmers Markets across the state.

“We are all living longer, and good nutrition is important to a healthy lifestyle,” she said. “But studies show that only one in three seniors are regularly buying and eating fresh, quality produce, like that which is grown by local farmers and available right now at area Farmers Markets.”