Program to offer fresh produce to city seniors

By Meghan E. Irons, Globe Staff

Ignus Thomas would love to gobble up as much fresh fruit and vegetables as he can, but on a limited income the 68-year-old Mattapan resident has had to scale back.

Now, through a new city program announced today, he will be able to stock his refrigerator with organic eggplants, cucumbers, and cabbage -- foods he likes to use for all sorts of culinary experiments.

"I don't use a recipe,'' he said. "I'm picky about meat and fish, but when it comes to fruits and veggies, I eat everything. ''

The new program for senior citizens will begin its first deliveries Tuesday to 90 people, including Thomas, in three public housing developments: the Hassan development in Mattapan and the Lower Mills and Peabody-Englewood apartments in Dorchester.

Enterprise Farm of South Deerfield will deliver a wide variety of produce -- enough to feed one or two people per week.

Senior Whole Health, a health care plan for Medicare and Medicaid recipients, will pay for the produce.

Edith Murnane, the city’s food initiative director, said easy access to fresh produce is difficult for seniors at this time of year, and the new program is one way to not only feed seniors but help keep them healthy.

"You are talking about two types of access -- one is physical and one is economic,'' she said. "And both of those are difficult. ... So for some seniors, this would be the only way they would be able to get access'' to fresh goods.

Thomas said he usually walks to get his produce at discount supermarkets in Mattapan or Hyde Park, and normally the fruits and vegetables are not fresh.

"It's very critical in your diet that you have at least one serving of fresh fruits and vegetables per day,'' said Thomas. "That's why I am very excited this."