When Michigan’s Senior Project FRESH (farmers market) program moved to a fully online format this year, the Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging faced a critical question: how could they ensure that seniors without internet still accessed fresh, local food?
Their solution: a locally run Senior Produce Program with paper coupons and partnerships with area farm markets. The shift reflects both an appreciation for the state’s long-standing support of senior nutrition and a practical response to local barriers in digital access.
“We recognize the importance of the statewide program and all the work that’s gone into modernizing it,” said Lana Payne, director of the Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging. “But for many of our seniors, the technology is just not accessible right now.”
The Senior Project FRESH program—administered through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Michigan State University Extension—has historically provided low-income seniors with coupons to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers markets statewide. The recent switch to a fully electronic system offers benefits like streamlined tracking and the potential for expanded funding.
However, for seniors without email addresses, smartphones, or internet access, the new format proved difficult to navigate. “We had printed instructions and screenshots to help them sign up online,” Payne said, “but many simply didn’t have the tools, or the interest to go that route.”
Rather than see residents go without fresh produce, the Commission on Aging launched its own county-run Senior Produce Program. With funding for 200 households this season, the initiative provided $50 in paper coupons per household, usable at five contracted markets in the area: the Sarah Hardy Market, Interlochen Farmers Market, Gallagher’s Farm Market, Groleau’s Farm Market, and Warren Orchards Market.
“We had a great response,” Payne said. “Seniors were so appreciative to receive the paper coupons they’re used to.”
Assembled just weeks before distribution, the new program has already shown promise. Unlike in the statewide program, where farmers must register online, complete training, and sometimes pay for tablet devices, the local program offers a more direct route.
Markets simply submit used coupons back to the Commission on Aging and are reimbursed promptly.
“It’s been helpful for vendors as well,” Payne noted. “They don’t have to wait months for reimbursement, and the process is simpler.”
Still, Payne emphasizes that the state program plays a vital role. “Statewide initiatives like Senior Project FRESH are incredibly important,” she said. “They offer reach, funding, and infrastructure that we wouldn’t have without their leadership. But in this moment of digital transition, we needed to offer an option that matched the capacity of our local population.”
At the federal level, some agencies chose not to sign up for the updated program, with national officials suggesting changes weren’t mandatory. Still, local leaders like Payne saw that seniors were at risk of falling through the cracks. We applaud the Commission on Aging for moving forward with its own program. It is critical that the program remains supported and utilized so that funding isn’t cut in future years.
Local support includes transportation, nutrition education, and community engagement. Seniors in the program receive information on food storage, healthy recipes, and freezing produce—support that goes beyond simply handing out coupons.
And for many seniors, the benefits are deeply personal. “We’ve had folks say, ‘Thanks to this program, I got local blueberries and now I have a freezer full of jam,’” Payne shared. “It’s not just about nutrition. It’s also about joy.”
Seniors also enjoy the opportunity to attend markets in person, connect with growers, and feel more rooted in their communities. “Being able to see who grows your food brings people together,” Payne said.
The program is open to Grand Traverse County residents 60+ who meet income limits. Seniors and interested vendors can contact the Commission on Aging to get involved.
Though initially seen as temporary, Payne says the local program is likely here to stay—and grow. “We’ve had other counties express interest in replicating this model,” she said. “Next year, we hope to contract with more farmers and even small farm stands.”
The goal isn’t to replace the state program, Payne emphasized, but to complement it. “We’re proud to be able to provide something that works for our seniors, while still supporting the broader mission of improving senior nutrition across Michigan.”
As the digital divide continues to pose challenges for older adults, Grand Traverse County’s initiative offers a hopeful example of what local creativity and compassion can achieve.