Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)

About This Program

The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides low-income seniors with coupons or electronic benefits they can use to buy fresh, unprepared fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey from authorized farmers markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs. Benefits are distributed once per season — typically in late spring or early summer — and must be used before the program year ends in the fall. Benefit amounts are modest — typically $20-$50 for the season — but the value to seniors is broader than the dollar amount. SFMNP explicitly aims to connect low-income seniors with locally grown fresh produce and to support small and mid-sized farmers. For seniors on fixed incomes who rely primarily on SNAP for food, SFMNP provides access to fresh, local produce they might not otherwise prioritize. Not all states participate in SFMNP, and within participating states, the number of authorized redemption sites varies. Some areas have robust farmers market networks where SFMNP benefits are easy to use; others have limited access, particularly in rural areas with few farmers markets. Eligibility is for adults 60 and older with income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. To receive SFMNP benefits, contact your local Area Agency on Aging or your state's SFMNP coordinator — applications are typically processed through senior centers, nutrition programs, and social services offices in the spring.

Eligibility Requirements

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