Seniors Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program

The Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) is a program established by USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). Under the program, CCC makes grants to States and Indian tribal governments to provide coupons to low-income seniors that may be exchanged for eligible foods at farmers markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs.

On January 4, 2001, the USDA’s CCC announced the award of almost $15 million in grants to 31 states and 5 Indian Tribal Organizations for the SFMNP. State Departments of Agriculture, Aging, Health and tribal governments administering the grants developed creative partnerships that are utilizing existing infrastructure to offer farmers’ markets for the first time, to expand existing farmers’ market programs to serve seniors, and to certify and distribute benefits to the estimated 370,000 low-income seniors this pilot is expected to serve. At least eleven projects 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 to eliminate barriers to access.

The program was extended into 2002. On December 13, 2001, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)announced a solicitation to submit grant applications for the SFMNP for fiscal year 2002. A total of $10 million for the SFMNP is available for 2002.

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