Second phase of Stone Soup program offers free food vouchers through doctors’ offices

Farm markets, fresh market vendors sought for new effort

Provided photo: Amanda Mrzywka, owner of Navarra’s Farm Market and Greenhouses, is pictured with Marie Gabalski, Nutrition Program Coordinator at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County.

Press release, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County

ALBION – Community Action of Orleans & Genesee and Orleans Cornell Cooperative Extension are seeking farms, markets, and other fresh market vendors to participate in accepting FoodRX vouchers as part of phase two of the Stone Soup Project, supported by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York Blue Fund.

FoodRX vouchers will be provided in collaboration with Orleans Community Health/Medina Memorial Hospital to people who have health concerns and have difficulty accessing fresh food due to low income.

FoodRX vouchers will be given at the discretion of participating medical providers within the Orleans Community Health System with a projected start date of July 1. Vouchers can be redeemed for local produce, dairy, meat, eggs, food producing plants, or a CSA/food program.

The goal of the program is to help those who receive vouchers manage certain conditions – such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity – through improved access to locally produced and nutritious food. Grant funding for this program will allow for $200 per family/household.

Amanda Mrzywka, owner of Navarra’s Farm Market and Greenhouses, which is a participating vendor, expressed enthusiasm and excitement for the new program. She said that many families  could use the vouchers towards their CSA/Box subscriptions.

For those interested in being included on the list of participating vendors, farmers and growers, reach out to Marie Gabalski by June 9 at 585-798-4265 x139 or by email at meg365@cornell.edu. Additional vendors may join after June 9, but they will not be listed on the FoodRX voucher.