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Welcome to. Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH 2011. Training program for Market Masters and Farmers. Please complete the pre-test , view the program, then complete the post test . Instructions are on the last page on how to submit the two tests. What’s NEW .

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  1. Welcome to Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH 2011 Training program for Market Masters and Farmers Please complete the pre-test, view the program, then complete the post test. Instructions are on the last page on how to submit the two tests.

  2. What’s NEW • If you have participated in Project FRESH in past years, there are a few changes you need to know about. They are: • Senior Project FRESH is NOW SEPARATE from WIC Project FRESH. • We are transitioning to a new name: MARKET FRESH • There are additional ELIGIBLE foods for older adults • Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH use DIFFERENT COUPONS. • If you have participated in Project FRESH in past years, there are a few changes you need to know about. They are: • Senior Project FRESH is NOW SEPARATE from WIC Project FRESH. • We are transitioning to a new name: MARKET FRESH • There are additional ELIGIBLE foods for older adults • Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH use DIFFERENT COUPONS.

  3. Separate from WIC • Beginning this year, Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH will be working with farmers and market masters independent of WIC. • This will allow us to provide older adults with more selection, as well as make payments to market masters in a more timely manner.

  4. What It Means for You • Farmers who are not market masters will have to sign a contact with the Market Master for Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH. It is similar to the WIC contract. • You will accept coupons and put your farmer number on the coupon as you have in the past. Coupons are different for each program.

  5. What It Means For You, con’t • Market Masters will sign a contractwith Office of Services to the Aging as a market master. You will also need contracts with each of your farmers. • You will receive a NEW market master number from OSA. You will have to hand write the number on the coupons. You may use the same farmer numbers that you have assigned in the past for the farmers. • You will batch the coupons as you have in the past. You will be sending them in to Office of Services to the Aging. A fiscal intermediary will be issuing checks to you to distribute to your farmers. Information on where to mail coupons will be provided to you prior to June 1, 2011. • OSA will provide you with batch cover sheets.

  6. New Name • The current “Senior Project FRESH” will transition this year and will become “Market FRESH” for 2012. • For 2011, we will use “Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH”. • The new name reflects the fact that we want to focus on the fact that fresh produce is for all ages. And, most older adults don’t want to be called seniors!

  7. What It Means for You • You may see materials with Senior Project FRESH, Market FRESH, or Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH on them. It is all the same program. • Your new signs will read, “Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH Welcome Here”.

  8. More Eligible Foods • The 2010 Nutrition Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults over 51 limit their sodium (salt) intake. To help older adults try new seasonings, we have expanded the choices that are eligible. Honey is also now available for older adults. A complete list can be found in your Quick Guide to Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH. • Please note that dried herbs, dried fruit, spices nuts and seeds ARE NOT ELIGIBLE for purchase with the coupons. (Sorry- USDA rule).

  9. What it Means for You • Since WIC and Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH have different eligible items, you will want to have a reference sheet handy and instruct anyone working with you of the differences. • Since using herbs for cooking may be new to older adults, you may want to have some information for them about how to use it, what the main taste is, “peppery”, etc. and/or include a recipe or two.

  10. Different Coupons • The 2011 Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH coupons will be light blue in color. There will be three coupons per each 8 ½ x 11 sheet. They are perforated so they can be torn apart one at a time. Older adults and/or their proxy’s will still have to sign the coupon. • They will have a coupon holder that will have the participants signature and/or the proxy signature. As always, compare signatures to ensure the coupon is being used by the correct person(s). • Coupon denominations are still $2.00 each. Most participants will have ten, $2.00 coupons, although counties may purchase additional coupons for distribution if they wish. • No cash change is to be given to the participant. If the total cost is $3.00, please suggest to the participant that they give you 1 coupon and $1.00, or suggest another eligible product to make it total $3.00.

  11. Different Coupons • Farmers: As soon as you have completed the transaction, write your farmer number in the appropriate box on the coupon. • Treat the coupon like cash! No reimbursement without the coupon. • Submit the coupons to your market master on the schedule your market master has asked for. • You may want to keep a log of the coupon numbers and date submitted to the market master. Remember you need to keep the coupons separate from the WIC coupons. Mixing them could delay payment.

  12. Different Coupons • Market Masters: You will receive a new market master number from the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging when we return the signed contract to you. It will NOT be a stamp. You will need to write this number on the coupon in the appropriate box. • Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH coupons need to be kept separate and submitted to the appropriate fiscal agents. You will receive information prior to June 1 as to where to mail your Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH coupons for reimbursement. Batch sheets will be provided for you. • Please double check all coupons to ensure there is a farmer number on each one before submission. • Prior to submitting your first batch of coupons, please submit a list of farmers and their numbers to the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging.

  13. Compliance Assessments • The USDA requires us to visit and evaluate 10% of all farmers, markets and roadside stands. • High risk farmers, markets and roadside stands will always be part of the 10%. (see the Guidebook for a definition of ‘high-risk’). Others are randomly chosen. • The evaluator may appear to be a proxy for a participant, and go through the process of purchasing produce, or they may just observe and talk to some of the participants. • At some point, the evaluator may introduce herself and ask you some questions.

  14. Compliance Assessments • If you are found to be out of compliance, OSA will send you a letter stating the compliance issue and what needs to be done to bring your stand or market into compliance. You will be asked to respond in writing with either a denial with explanation, or a plan to resolve the problem. • The most common non-compliance issue is that no signs are posted informing participants they can use coupons.

  15. Where Do People Get Coupons? • Each county has a lead agency that qualifies older adults and distributes coupons. (Wayne Co. has two because of the population). • A list of lead agencies for each county can be found with the Quick Guide to Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH and on the website. • A person must be at least 60 years of age, have a total household income of 185% of poverty or less, and live in the county the coupons are issued in. • HOWEVER, they can use coupons at any participating market in the state displaying the sign. • You may want to contact the lead agency in your county and give them materials to distribute to their participants about your market, or you may want to work together on a “Market Day”. The best redemption rates come from counties where the coupons are distributed at the market.

  16. DATES to Remember • June 1, 2011: First day coupons may be handed out and used by eligible older adults. • September 30, 2011: Last day coupons can be distributed by lead agencies. • October 31, 2011: Last day coupons can be accepted by participating farmers/markets/roadside stands. • November 10, 2011: Last day coupons will be accepted for payment by Office of Services to the Aging.

  17. Civil Rights Questions • This is a USDA program. This means that customers must be treated in an equal and fair manner. If customers have complaints or concerns, please refer them to Office of Services to the Aging, or to the USDA. Civil Rights brochures are available on the website.

  18. Thanks • Thanks for being part of a nationwide effort to help older adults have access to locally-grown produce! • Please complete the post test now and follow the directions on the tests to submit.

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