Adams County seniors can apply now for $50 farmers market benefits

The $50 grocery boost can buy more than a bag of peaches or a few tomatoes for Adams County seniors on fixed incomes. It can stretch a monthly food budget, especially for older residents in rural parts of the county where fresh produce can be harder to reach and more expensive to keep on the table.

Ohio’s Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program opened its 2026 application period on April 22 and will accept requests until 6 p.m. Friday, May 22. Eligible Ohioans age 60 and older can receive $50 to spend on locally grown fruits, vegetables, fresh-cut herbs and unprocessed honey. Benefits are limited and issued on a first-come, first-served basis, with redemption running through November 30.

To qualify, applicants must have household income below 185% of the federal poverty level, and they must reapply every year to keep receiving the benefit. Ohio also modernized the program in 2024 so seniors can use either a mobile app or a physical card. People who apply with an email address get a confirmation message and can start using the benefit beginning May 15, while physical membership cards remain available for seniors who need them.

For Adams County residents, the practical value depends on more than eligibility. AAA7, the Area Agency on Aging district that includes Adams County and nine other southern Ohio counties, says authorized farmers in its district accept the benefit. That means the program can help older residents buy local produce while keeping some of that food money in southern Ohio farms and markets. But seniors who do not drive, who live far from a participating market, or who face transportation barriers may still struggle to turn a benefit into actual groceries.

AAA7 says eligible people in Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton counties can use the $50 benefit with authorized farmers in the program. Online applications are encouraged, but help is available through the AAA7 senior farmers’ market line at 1-800-582-7277 for people without internet access. For many older adults, the deadline is now as important as the dollars: once the application window closes, the chance to use that $50 for the 2026 growing season does too.