Seniors protest end of farmer's market voucher program

MILWAUKEE -- Senior citizens gathered in Milwaukee on Thursday, December 6th to protest the end of a farmer's market voucher program.

The program provides low income seniors vouchers to buy fresh produce at farmer's markets, and is part of the Farm Bill. 

That bill is held up in Congress, so the voucher program will not be renewed this year. 

Workers at the Hunger Task Force say it may not be much money per person, but it's money both farmers and seniors count on.

"The economic impact is a big one. $25 seems like nothing, but when you think about the fact that 865,000 seniors are using the program that`s $15 million that`s not getting distributed to very low income seniors," Sherrie Tussler with the Hunger Task Force said.

Tussler says that will affect about 3,300 seniors in Milwaukee, and about 13,000 in Wisconsin.