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WIC FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM (FMNP)
Matching Support to Market Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
and Strengthen Farmers Markets. The Program provides Coupons or
Checks to Participating Low-Income,
At-Risk Women, Infants and Children, to Obtain
Locally Grown Fresh Produce from Farmers Markets.
The FMNP was established by Congress in July 1992, to provide fresh,
nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits and vegetables to WIC
participants, and to expand the awareness, use of and sales at farmers’
markets. The FMNP is associated with the Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants and Children, popularly known as WIC,
that provides supplemental foods, health care referrals and nutrition
education at no cost to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding
postpartum women, and to infants and children up to 5 years of age,
who are found to be at nutritional risk.
Eligible WIC participants are issued FMNP coupons in addition to
their regular WIC food instruments. These coupons are used to buy
fresh, unprepared locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs from
farmers or farmers’ markets that have been approved by the
State agency to accept FMNP coupons.
The FMNP is administered through a Federal/State partnership in
which the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) provides cash grants
to State agencies. The FMNP is administered by State agencies such
as State agriculture departments or health departments or Indian
Tribal Organizations. States operating the FMNP must match the Federal
funds allocated to them by contributing at least 30 percent of the
total cost of the program. Indian State agencies may receive a lower
match, but not less than 10 percent of the total cost of the program.
The FMNP is currently authorized in certain areas of 44 States.
During fiscal year 2002, over 2.1 million WIC participants received
benefits. During fiscal year 2002, 13,176 farmers and 1, 911 farmers'
markets were authorized to accept FMNP coupons. Coupons redeemed
through the FMNP resulted in over $20.8 million in revenue to farmers
for fiscal year 2002.
Funding
The 2002 Farm Bill mandated an additional $15 million in Commodity
credit Corporation funds for the FMNP for FY 2002, to remain available
until expended, raising the total for FY 2002 to $25 million. For
fiscal year 2003, Congress provided a total of $25 million for the
FMNP
To find out more about this program go to: www.fns.usda.gov/wic/
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