NEW YORK, NY July 08, 2008 —The Health Department is expanding its effort to get fresh fruits and vegetables into the hands of more New Yorkers.

They introduced $2 health bucks — vouchers worth $2.

The bucks will be made available for low income residents in the South Bronx, north and central Brooklyn and east and central Harlem. Dr. Jane Bedell, with the Dept. of Health says she hopes the extra discount will get more people to patronize the markets.

BEDELL: For some people they have an image or a stereotype that the farmers market going to be too expensive to them, and it’s not worth the trip and just a little bit of an incentive. This $2 free coupon sometimes gets them over the hump.

REPORTER: The DOH says it has 1,500 health bucks on hand and will be available at community centers in the designated neighborhoods.

Council Speaker Christine Quinn was also on hand to introduce a new wireless card reader system that allows New Yorkers to use debit and benefit cards at 14 different greenmarkets around the city.