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SENIOR FARMERS' MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM Similar to the WIC Program, The Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) provides funding to benefit both the low income seniors as well as the farmers by providing greater demand for their products. Farmers markets and farmers market groups should contact their States to find out more about becoming authorized to accept coupons and about obtaining funding if the State does not already have a program. The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) is a new program in which grants are awarded 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. USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service administers the SFMNP grants. The purposes of the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program are to:
State agencies administering the grants have developed creative partnerships that are utilizing infrastructure to offer farmers' markets to expand to serve seniors, and to certify and distribute benefits. 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 of access. In 2001, fresh, nutritious, unprepared locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs were available to 3,700 farmers at 929 farmers' markets as well as 542 roadside stands and nearly 90 community supported agriculture programs. For fiscal year 2003, grants were awarded to 40 State agencies and federally recognized Indian tribal governments to operate the SFMNP. In fiscal year 2002, fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs were available from over 10,000 farmers at 1,500 farmers’ markets as well as over 1,000 roadside stands and more than 200 community supported agriculture programs. In fiscal year 2002, just over 500,000 people received and used SFMNP coupons. Funding Project Examples The West Virginia Department of Agriculture has the highest percentage of senior citizens over the age of 60 years in the nation. Phase One of their SFMNP grant distribution will include statewide home delivery. They currently operate a WIC FMNP. Approximately 10,000 senior recipients will also receive a 5-pound bag of West Virginia-grown apples in addition to the SFMNP food benefit. New York Department of Agriculture and Markets has operated a small Seniors FMNP funded solely with state dollars for over 10 years. The program will be expanded to increase recipient’s benefits by approximately 40%. Participant information and nutrition education materials will be provided in 4 different languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, and Haitian Creole. Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, has operated a Seniors FMNP for several years. The SFMNP grant will expand this program to provide approximately 24,000 homebound recipients with fresh produce. Maine Department of Agriculture plans to use its Senior FarmShare Program to reach over 25,000 potentially eligible seniors with combinations of distribution channels, including individual community supported agriculture (CSA) shareholders, pooling of CSA shares through local food pantries, participation in congregate meal sites, and home delivery. To find out more about this program go to: www.fns.usda.gov/wic/SeniorFMNP/SFMNPmenu.htm |
