SENIOR FARMERS' MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM

The purpose of the Kentucky Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) is to gain market access for farmers as well as improving nutrition of low income families by providing them better access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Funding for Kentucky's program comes from federal and state resources. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) serves as the lead agency for Sr FMNP. The low-income seniors are provided with $50 in checks to purchase fresh, unprocessed, locally grown fruits, honey, vegetables and herbs at State-approved farmers' markets.

FARMERS MARKET LOCATIONS & DISTRIBUTION AGENCIES

For more information on participating Farmers Market locations and participating Distribution Agencies in your counties please see the links titled Distributing Agency Distribution Sites and Farmers Market Locations under Forms and Documents.

Click Here to contact your local Distribution Agency for enrollment into the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.

ELIGIBILITY FOR SENIOR PARTICIPANTS

    Age:
  • 60 + at day of issuance
  • Must provide proof of age

2025 INCOME GUIDELINES

60 Years of Age and Older Based on 185 % Federal Poverty Income Guidelines 
Senior participants will self-declare their income which is less than or equal to 185% of the poverty level.

Household Size Annual Income Monthly Weekly
1$ 28,953$ 2,413$ 557
2$ 39,128$ 3,261$ 753
3$ 49,303$ 4,109$ 949
4$ 59,478$ 4,957$ 1,144
5$ 69,653$ 5,805$ 1,340
6$ 79,828
$ 6,653$ 1,536
7$ 90,003$ 7,501$ 1,731
8$ 100,178$ 8,349$ 1,927
For Each Additional
Family Member Add		$ 10,175$ 848$ 196

ELIGIBLE FOODS LIST

The Kentucky-grown foods listed here are eligible for purchase with SFMNP coupons. Fruits and vegetables must be fresh and in their raw form.

Fresh cut cooking herbs: Basil, Borage, Chives, Cilantro, Dill, Epazote, Fennel, Garlic, Marjoram, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Savory, Shiso, Sorrel, Tarragon, and Thyme.

    Now Eligible:

  • Honey
  • Apples
  • Asparagus
  • Beans
  • Beets
  • Blackberries
  • Blueberries
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Cherries
  • Cucumbers
  • Edamame Soybeans
  • Eggplant
  • Grapes
  • Greens
  • Green Onions
  • Honey
  • Kohlrabi
  • Lettuce
  • Melons
  • Mushrooms
  • Okra
  • Onions
  • Parsnips
  • Pawpaws
  • Peaches
  • Pears
  • Peas
  • Peppers
  • Plums
  • Potatoes
  • Pumpkins
  • Radishes
  • Raspberries
  • Rhubarb
  • Strawberries 
  • Sweet Corn 
  • Summer Squash
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Tomatoes
  • Turnips
  • Watermelons
  • Winter 
  • Squash

Eligible foods means fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs for human consumption. Eligible foods may not be processed or prepared beyond their natural state except for usual harvesting and cleaning processes. Only fresh, unprocessed fruits, vegetables, and fresh-cut herbs may be provided under this program.

Foods not eligible: 
Non-local, non-Kentucky-grown products are not eligible for purchase with FMNP coupons. Examples include citrus products such as oranges, mangoes, lemons, and limes; bananas, and pineapples. Medicinal Herbs and others such as aloe, lamb's ear, catnip, rue, white sage, lavender, echinacea, bee balm, chamomile, St Johnswort are not eligible for purchase with coupons. Meats, eggs, cheese, and home-processed goods are not allowed. Dried fruits or vegetables, such as prunes (dried plums), raisins (dried grapes), sun-dried tomatoes or dried chili peppers are not considered eligible foods. 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.

MARKET REQUIREMENTS FOR APPROVAL FOR SENIORS

Market Requirements 
Only authorized farmers' markets may redeem Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)checks. For a market to be an SFMNP market it must meet the following criteria:

    Criteria for a Market to Accept Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Vouchers
  • The market must be an organized market. To be considered "organized" the market must have an established contact person/decisionmaker and meet at a named location on specified days and times.
  • The market must be registered with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and approved as a Kentucky Proud? member.
  • The market must have fresh Kentucky-grown produce.
  • The market must be an estabished market with at least one year of experience in operation.
    If a market meets the criteria above, then markets will be rated according to the following items: 
  • What is the poverty level in the county? (A higher poverty level will be weighted positively.)
  • What is the history of the market season? (A longer season is weighted positively.)
  • Is the number of participating farmers sufficient to provide an ample variety of eligible produce? (A higher number of farmers per capita is weighted positively.)
    Criteria used to authorize farmers 
    Participating farmers in the program must:
  • Be member of an approved farmers' market;
  • Be a Kentucky grower
  • Attend a training session each year;
  • Accept checks for only for fruits and vegetables the farmers has produced in Kentucky; and
  • Sign an agreement that they understand and agree to follow all the rules for participation in the FMNP program

USDA NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

  • Mail:
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

  • Fax:
    (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

  • Email:
    program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

DECLARACIÓN DE NO DISCRIMINACIÓN DEL USDA (USDA NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT - SPANISH)

De acuerdo con la ley federal de derechos civiles y las normas y políticas de derechos civiles del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA), esta entidad está prohibida de discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo, discapacidad, edad, o represalia o retorsión por actividades previas de derechos civiles.

La información sobre el programa puede estar disponible en otros idiomas que no sean el inglés. Las personas con discapacidades que requieren medios alternos de comunicación para obtener la información del programa (por ejemplo, Braille, letra grande, cinta de audio, lenguaje de señas americano (ASL), etc.) deben comunicarse con la agencia local o estatal responsable de administrar el programa o con el Centro TARGET del USDA al (202) 720-2600 (voz y TTY) o comuníquese con el USDA a través del Servicio Federal de Retransmisión al (800) 877-8339.

Para presentar una queja por discriminación en el programa, el reclamante debe llenar un formulario AD-3027, formulario de queja por discriminación en el programa del USDA, el cual puede obtenerse en línea en: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027s.pdf, de cualquier oficina de USDA, llamando al (866) 632-9992, o escribiendo una carta dirigida a USDA. La carta debe contener el nombre del demandante, la dirección, el número de teléfono y una descripción escrita de la acción discriminatoria alegada con suficiente detalle para informar al Subsecretario de Derechos Civiles (ASCR) sobre la naturaleza y fecha de una presunta violación de derechos civiles. El formulario AD-3027 completado o la carta debe presentarse a USDA por:

  • correo:
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; o

  • Fax:
    (833) 256-1665 o (202) 690-7442; o

  • correo electrónico:
    program.intake@usda.gov

Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.


ADDITIONAL LINKS

Kentucky Proud Farmers' Market Directory