Senior Market Day Promotes Healthy Eating in Older Adults

Pontiac, Mich. – Oakland County’s Healthy Oakland Partnership (HOP) encourages county residents to participate in its annual Senior Market Day events. Oakland County residents 60 years and older will receive a $5 coupon to spend on produce at participating farmers markets.

“Senior Market Day helps connect residents to locally grown Michigan produce and introduces them to farmers markets in the county,” said Leigh-Anne Stafford, director of Oakland County Department of Health and Human Services. “Connecting residents to Michigan-grown produce helps move the needle on strengthening healthy eating behaviors.”

Senior Market Day will occur on the following dates:

• Thursday, Aug. 8, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Oak Park Farmers Market, 14300 Oak Park Boulevard, Oak Park
• Thursday, Sept. 5, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Oakland County Farmers Market, 2350 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford
• Saturday, Sept. 7, from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Farmington Farmers Market, 33113 Grand River Avenue, Farmington

Five-dollar coupons for produce are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and must be used during the event. Distribution ends 30 minutes before the market closes, and no registration is necessary. The farmers markets also offer Double Up Food Bucks, which match money spent using a Bridge card/EBT up to $20. In addition to $5 coupons for produce. A variety of resources and additional health information will be available on-site for older adults.

The market days this year are made possible in part by Trinity Health.

For more information, visit oakgov.com/health, @publichealthOC on Facebook and Twitter, or contact Kelsey Merz at [email protected] or (248) 365-8954.

Healthy Oakland Partnership (HOP)

Healthy Oakland Partnership (HOP) was launched by Oakland County Health Division in 2009 as a collaboration of local government, hospitals, health care providers, community-based organizations, businesses, and citizens working to increase and promote healthy eating and physical activity opportunities.

HOP currently has two teams dedicated to specific initiatives:

• Farmers Market Team – Improve the health and well-being of Oakland County by supporting farmers Markets.
• Youth Team – Improve the health and well-being of Oakland County through programs in schools.

HOP began hosting Family Market Days in 2009 to engage entire families in healthy eating practices and encourage physical activity. The partnership expanded to include older adults in 2017 by hosting Senior Market Days.