Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program

1. What is the Senior Farmers' 

Market Nutrition Program 

(SFMNP)?

The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition 

Program (SFMNP) is a 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. The 

majority of the grant funds must be used to 

support the costs of the foods that are 

provided under the SFMNP; State agencies 

may use up to 10 percent of their grants to 

support administrative costs for the 

program.

2. What is the purpose of the 

SFMNP?

The purposes of the Senior Farmers’ 

Market Nutrition Program are to:

1. Provide fresh, nutritious, 

unprepared, locally grown fruits, 

vegetables, herbs, and honey from 

farmers’ markets, roadside stands 

and community supported 

agriculture programs to low-income 

seniors, and

2. Increase the consumption of 

agricultural commodities by 

expanding, developing, or aiding in 

the development and expansion of 

domestic farmers’ markets, 

roadside stands, and community 

supported agriculture programs.

3. Who is eligible for SFMNP 

benefits?

Low-income seniors, generally defined as 

individuals who are at least 60 years old 

and who have household incomes of not 

more than 185% 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 SNAP, for SFMNP eligibility.

4. When does the SFMNP 

operate?

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 of time in 

which to use their SFMNP benefits.
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5. Where does the SFMNP 

operate?

For Fiscal Year (FY) 2008, grants have 

been awarded to 49 State agencies and 

federally recognized Indian tribal 

governments to operate the SFMNP: 

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, 

California, the Chickasaw Nation in 

Oklahoma, Connecticut, the District of 

Columbia, Five Sandoval Pueblos (New 

Mexico), Florida, Georgia, the Grand 

Traverse Indians in Michigan, Hawaii, 

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, 

Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, 

Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, 

Mississippi, the Mississippi Band of 

Choctaw Indians, Montana, Nebraska, 

Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, 

New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, 

Ohio, Oregon, the Osage Tribal Council in 

Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, 

Rhode Island, San Felipe Pueblo (New 

Mexico), South Carolina, Standing Rock 

Sioux (ND), Tennessee, Vermont, 

Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and 

Wisconsin.

6. How does the SFMNP 

operate?

Once the SFMNP benefits have been 

issued to eligible seniors, they can be used 

at authorized farmers’ markets, roadside 

stands, and community supported 

agriculture programs. In 2008, these 

products were available from over 17,156

farmers at 3,159 farmers’ markets as well 

2,512 roadside stands and 199 community 

supported agriculture programs.

7. What foods are available 

through the SFMNP?

Fresh, nutritious, unprepared fruits, 

vegetables, herbs, and honey may be 

purchased with SFMNP benefits. State 

agencies may limit SFMNP sales to 

specific foods that are locally grown in 

order to encourage SFMNP recipients to 

support the farmers in their own States. 

Certain foods are not eligible for purchase 

with SFMNP benefits; these include dried 

fruits or vegetables, such as prunes (dried 

plums), raisins (dried grapes), sun-dried 

tomatoes or dried chili peppers. Potted fruit

or vegetable plants, potted or dried herbs, 

wild rice, nuts of any kind (even raw), 

maple syrup, cider, and molasses are also 

not allowed.

8. Who has the administrative 

responsibility for the SFMNP?

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service 

administers the SFMNP grants.

9. What is the current funding 

level?

The new Farm Bill provides $20.6 million 

annually to operate the Program through 

2012.

10. How many recipients are 

served in the SFMNP? 

In FY 2008, 963,685 people received 

SFMNP coupons. 

11. How can I obtain further 

information?

For further information, please visit our 

website at: www.fns.usda.gov/wic

May 2009