May 29, 2025 -- Because the Trump administration has delivered only a portion of the money that Congress has appropriated for the Senior Farmers Market Voucher program, area agencies on aging statewide will have far fewer vouchers available this year to help older residents buy fresh, nutritious food at farmers markets. And because of administrative problems created by the reduced funding, the vouchers will be delivered to those agencies two weeks later than planned.

Caryn Long Earl, director of the Bureau of Food Assistance for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, recently notified county agencies that they will receive about 74% of the vouchers that they requested, attributing the reduction to disruptions of federal funding. The Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging requested 38,000 vouchers this year but will receive 28,615, according to agency director Sara McDonald. According to the state Department of Agriculture, the Luzerne/Wyoming Counties Area Agency on Aging requested 47,000 vouchers but will receive 35,380.

Under the state Department of Agriculture program, income-eligible residents 60 or older receive up to five, $5 vouchers each to spend on fresh food at farm markets. Area agencies on aging distribute the vouchers. In 2024, according to the state Department of Agriculture, older residents in Lackawanna County redeemed the vouchers at a higher rate than their peers in any other Pennsylvania county. They redeemed 32,875 of the 36,500 vouchers that were issued through the county agency, a redemption rate of 90.4%.

In addition to helping older residents obtain fresh food, the voucher program benefits farmers. Statewide, about 1,000 farms participate in the program.

“This is a classic example of how the Trump administration’s arbitrary funding decisions trickle down to hurt the very people that it claims to champion,” Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan said. “The rate at which our older residents have used these vouchers demonstrates the need for the program. And the vouchers help to ensure a solid income stream for farmers to help them deal with the uncertainties that make farming a difficult business. Taking food out of vulnerable people’s mouths doesn’t make America great; it makes America hungry.”

McDonald said that, despite the reduced number of vouchers, her agency will hold to its previously announced distribution schedule. She also urged residents who obtain vouchers to make sure they use them so they won’t be wasted.

Annual household income eligibility to obtain vouchers:

One person, $28,953
Two people; $39,128
Three people, $49,303
Four people, $59,478
Five people, $69,365
Six people, $79,828

The Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging distribution schedule:

June 17, 9 a.m. to noon, Merli-Sarnoski Park, Greenfield Twp.
June 18, 9 a.m. to noon, Throop Senior Community Center, 500 Sanderson St., Throop; and Mid Valley Senior Community Center, 310 Church St., Jessup.
June 23, 9 a.m. to noon, North Pocono Senior Community Center, 6 John J. Michaels Dr., Covington Twp.; and Taylor Senior Community Center, 700 S. Main St., Taylor.
June 25, 9 a.m. to noon, Hillside Senior Community Center, 1151 Winola Road, Clarks Summit.
June 26, 9 a.m. to noon, Scranton Senior Community Center, 1004 Jackson St.; and Fallbrook Senior Community Center, 185 Fallbrook St., Carbondale.
June 30, 9 a.m. to noon, Dunmore Senior Community Center, 1414 Monroe Ave., Dunmore; and Scranton Jewish Community Center, 601 Jefferson Ave., Scranton.
July 19, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., South Scranton Farmers’ Market, 526 Cedar Ave., Scranton.
July 23, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Scranton Co-Op Farmers’ Market, 900 Barring Ave., Scranton.