The Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program

Like SNAP and WIC, a growing number of farmers markets and farmers market vendors are beginning to accept SFMNP benefits as a way to make fresh and local food more accessible to low-income seniors. And like SNAP and WIC, accepting SFMNP benefits provides a great opportunity to expand the customer base, increase sales, and make farmers’ markets more accessible to people all across the income spectrum.

Yet, there are a few drawbacks to accepting SFMNP benefits. Not all food items qualify as an SFMN eligible purchase. Certain foods that are SNAP and/or WIC-eligible are not eligible for purchase with SFMNP coupons; products not allowed include dried fruits or vegetables (including prunes, raisins, sun-dried tomatoes or dried chili peppers), potted fruit or vegetable plants, potted or dried herbs, nuts of any kind (even raw), cane syrup, cider, or molasses. Like WIC, the SFMNP benefits are a coupon-based system, and only authorized farmers, farmers’ markets and/or roadside stands may accept and redeem the coupons. Businesses are responsible for adhering to eligibility guidelines to avoid fraud. Some recommendations for integrating SFMNP coupons into the POS include:

- Treat customers using SFMNP coupons the same as customers using cash and credit
- Devise efficient and discrete means to accept SFMNP coupons that do not alienate the customer
- Clearly post all products that do and do not qualify as an SFMNP-eligible purchase

References and Resources:

The USDA website on the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
Food and Nutrition Service

The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) provides low-income seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for eligible foods (fruits, vegetables, honey, and fresh-cut herbs) at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture programs. Like SNAP and WIC, a growing number of farmers’ markets and farmers’ market vendors are beginning to accept SFMNP benefits as a way to make fresh and local food more accessible to low-income seniors. And like SNAP and WIC, accepting SFMNP benefits provides a great opportunity to expand the customer base, increase sales, and make farmers’ markets more accessible to people all across the income spectrum.

Yet, there are a few drawbacks to accepting SFMNP benefits. Not all food items qualify as an SFMNP eligible purchase. Certain foods that are SNAP and/or WIC-eligible are not eligible for purchase with SFMNP coupons; products not allowed include dried fruits or vegetables (including prunes, raisins, sun-dried tomatoes or dried chili peppers), potted fruit or vegetable plants, potted or dried herbs, nuts of any kind (even raw), cane syrup, cider, or molasses. Like WIC, the SFMNP benefits are a coupon-based system, and only authorized farmers, farmers’ markets and/or roadside stands may accept and redeem the coupons. Businesses are responsible for adhering to eligibility guidelines to avoid fraud. Some recommendations for integrating SFMNP coupons into the POS include:

Treat customers using SFMNP coupons the same as customers using cash and credit
Devise efficient and discrete means to accept SFMNP coupons that do not alienate the customer
Clearly post all products that do and do not qualify as an SFMNP-eligible purchase.

Visit the program-specific pages to access additional information and helpful links for setting up SNAP/EBT, Senior FMNP, WIC FMNP, and Fresh Access Bucks!