(CHELSEANOW.COM) Dusica Sue Malesevic, August 19, 2016 — Amid the happy chatter and plate clatter of the cafeteria, Peter Gallinari, 67, talked about why he decided to take part in a food bag program aimed at seniors.

“The price is good — $8 for a bag of groceries,” Gallinari told Chelsea Now last week. “Fruits and vegetables are not cheap anymore.”

Now in its fourth year, the “Fresh Food for Seniors Program” was being offered for the first time at the Encore Senior Center (239 W. 49th St. btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves.).

Gallinari now lives in Queens but at one time worked and lived in Manhattan. An actor, he has been in films such as “Men In Black.” He regularly comes to eat at the center in Hell’s Kitchen, he said, as the food is good.

Nieves Taveras is the assistant director of the center, and has worked there for 20 years. She explained that the center offers a free breakfast (albeit 50 cents for coffee) and asks for a $1.50 donation for lunch — although no one is turned away if they can’t contribute.

The food bag program, which provides fresh produce from local farms, is new to the center, she said, and is in its second week. The first week, 15 seniors signed up, and 10 signed up for the second, she said. The program is also open to those who are not seniors, and others have signed up.

Taveras also noted the low cost. The first week, many were expecting more fruit, she said, but the bag only contained blueberries.

Gallinari didn’t mind that, saying he was happy with what he got — radishes, lettuce, beets and zucchini — and signed up again.

Both he and his wife — married for 28 years — love to cook, he explained. Growing up in Brooklyn, he learned from his father, who was a chef at a restaurant in Coney Island, and his wife learned from her mother.

He was hoping for different vegetables each week, saying, “variety is the spice of life,” with a smile.

Ken Jockers, executive director of the nonprofit Hudson Guild, said in a phone interview that this is the second year that his organization is participating in the program.

“We are delighted to be participating again in the program this year,” said Jockers.

He explained that it all started when Gale Brewer, now Manhattan borough president, was a councilmember and used to run the program in her district. Councilmember Corey Johnson then decided to bring the program to District 3. This is the second year that the program is being offered in the district.

People pay their $8 fee one week and then get the food the next, Jockers explained.

Source: Food Program Gives Seniors a ‘Fresh’ Start | chelseanow.com