Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)

Awarding grants to states, United States territories, and federally recognized Indian Tribal governments to provide low-income seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for eligible foods at farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs

The Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program aims to:

Provide resources in the form of fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and culinary herbs from farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture programs to low-income seniors
Increase the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities by expanding or aiding in the expansion of domestic farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture programs
Develop or help develop new and additional farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs.

For FY 2003, Congress appropriated $15 million for the SFMNP.

Project Examples
In March 2003, the USDA awarded $16.7 million in grants to 35 states, the District of Columbia, three Indian Tribal organizations, and Puerto Rico. State departments of agriculture, aging, and health and Tribal governments administering the grants developed creative partnerships to expand service to seniors and certify and distribute benefits to the estimated 500,000 low-income seniors the program is expected to serve.

In FY 2002, fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and culinary herbs were available from more than 8,500 farmers at 1,200 farmers' markets, as well as 900 roadside stands and nearly 49 community-supported agriculture programs.

To eliminate barriers to access, several programs are providing seniors with transportation to and from the markets through a partnership with senior centers or have arranged for local growers to take their produce directly to senior housing facilities.

Application and Financial Information
The USDA's Food and Nutrition Service administers the program and awards grants to individual state agencies to fund it. The state agencies then distribute the money to low-income seniors in the form of coupons. The website for the state contacts is www.fns.usda.gov/wic/seniorFMNP/SFMNPcontacts.htm.

In FY 2003, the SFMNP operated in 35 states, three Indian tribal organizations, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, an increase over 2002.

Eligibility, Uses, and Restrictions
Low-income seniors, generally defined as individuals who are at least 60 years old and who have household incomes of not more than 185 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines (published each year by the Department of Health and Human Services), are the targeted recipients of SFMNP benefits. Some state agencies accept proof of participation or enrollment in another means-tested program, such as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program or the Food Stamp Program, for SFMNP eligibility.

SFMNP benefits are provided to eligible recipients for use during the harvest season. In some states, the SFMNP season is relatively short because the growing season in that area is not very long. In other states with longer growing seasons, recipients have a longer period in which to use their SFMNP benefits.

The grant funds may be used only to support the costs of the foods provided under the SFMNP; no administrative funding is available.

Contact
Donna Hines
WIC at FNS Headquarters
Supplemental Food Programs Division
Food and Nutrition Service - USDA
3101 Park Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22302
E-mail: donna.hines@fns.usda.gov
Phone: (703) 305-2746; Fax: (703) 305-2196
E-mail: wichqweb@fns.usda.gov

Internet
www.fns.usda.gov/wic/seniorFMNP/SFMN Pmenu.htm

Last Updated June 16, 2007