Contact Us
AgNet

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 $28 in checks to purchase fresh, unprocessed, locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs at State-approved farmers' markets.

Eligibility for Senior Participants

    Age:
  • 60 + at day of issuance
  • Must provide proof of age
    Income:
  • Provide proof of income and meet the income criteria which is less than or equal to 185% of the poverty level

Income Guidelines

60 Years of Age and Older Based on 185 % Federal Poverty Income Guidelines
Household Size Annual Income Monthly Weekly
1 $22,311 $1,860 $430
2 $30,044 $2,504 $578
3 $37,777 $3,149 $727
4 $45,510 $3,793 $876
5 $53,243 $4,437 $1,024
6 $60,976 $5,082 $1,173
7 $68,709 $5,726 $1,322
8 $76,442 $6,371 $1,471
For Each Additional
Family Member Add		 $7,733 $645 $149

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.

Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Issuance Sites

Kentucky Fresh Approximate Availability Guide

Market Listing

Market Requirements for Approval for Seniors

Market Requirements

Only authorized farmers’ markets may redeem SFMNP vouchers. 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
  • Adhere to USDA CFR 249.2 definitions, Farmers’ Market means and association of local farmers who assemble at a defined location for the purpose of selling their produce directly to consumers.
  • The market must be an organized market. To be considered “organized” the market must have an established contact person/decision maker and meet at a named location at least once a week with specified days and operating times.
  • The market must experience one full growing season before application in SFMNP.
  • The market must have two (2) or more members in the market and two (2) or more members participating in the SFMNP.
  • The market must be registered with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and approved as a Kentucky Proud member.
  • The market must sell Kentucky-grown fresh produce

If a market meets the criteria above, then markets will be rated according to the following items:

  • Did the market participate in the program last year? (A market that paritcipated last year and had no serious violations will be weighed positively.)
  • What is the poverty level in the county? (A higher percentage will be weighted positively.)
  • Is the number of participating farmers sufficient to provide an ample variety of eligible produce? (A higher number of farmers willing to accept checks per capita is weighted positively.)

    Criteria used to authorize farmers
    Participating farmers in the program must:
  • Be member of an SFMNP approved farmers' market;
  • Attend a KDA approved training session each year;
  • Accept SFMNP checks for only eligible fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey the farmers have produced in Kentucky or within 50 miles of the border; and
  • Sign an agreement that they understand and agree to follow all the rules for participation in the SFMNP program.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.

Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement 2015 (Spanish)

For all other FNS nutrition assistance programs, State or local agencies, and their subrecipients, must post the following Nondiscrimination Statement:

Los demás programas de asistencia nutricional del FNS, las agencias estatales y locales, y sus beneficiarios secundarios, deben publicar el siguiente Aviso de No Discriminación:

De conformidad con la Ley Federal de Derechos Civiles y los reglamentos y políticas de derechos civiles del Departamento de Agricultura de los EE. UU. (USDA, por sus siglas en inglés), se prohíbe que el USDA, sus agencias, oficinas, empleados e instituciones que participan o administran programas del USDA discriminen sobre la base de raza, color, nacionalidad, sexo, discapacidad, edad, o en represalia o venganza por actividades previas de derechos civiles en algún programa o actividad realizados o financiados por el USDA.

Las personas con discapacidades que necesiten medios alternativos para la comunicación de la información del programa (por ejemplo, sistema Braille, letras grandes, cintas de audio, lenguaje de señas americano, etc.), deben ponerse en contacto con la agencia (estatal o local) en la que solicitaron los beneficios. Las personas sordas, con dificultades de audición o discapacidades del habla pueden comunicarse con el USDA por medio del Federal Relay Service [Servicio Federal de Retransmisión] al (800) 877-8339. Además, la información del programa se puede proporcionar en otros idiomas.

Para presentar una denuncia de discriminación, complete el Formulario de Denuncia de Discriminación del Programa del USDA, (AD-3027) que está disponible en línea en: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html y en cualquier oficina del USDA, o bien escriba una carta dirigida al USDA e incluya en la carta toda la información solicitada en el formulario. Para solicitar una copia del formulario de denuncia, llame al (866) 632-9992.

Haga llegar su formulario lleno o carta al USDA por:

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

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; o

(3) correo electrónico: program.intake@usda.gov.

Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.