Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program

 

The purposes of the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) are to: (1) provide resources in the form of fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs from farmers markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture (CSA) programs to low-income seniors; (2) increase the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities by expanding or aiding in the expansion of domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, and CSAs; and (3) develop or aid in the development of new and additional farmers markets, roadside stands, and CSAs.

Active 10.576 Food and Nutrition Service, Department of Agriculture A - Formula Grants; B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 No Current Data Available. 816,207 Participants, 20,129 Farmers, 3,582 Farmers’ Markets, 2,693 Roadside Stands, 114 Community Supported Agriculture Programs. .
Fiscal Year 2017 808,507 Participants, 19,449 Farmers, 3,641 Farmers’ Markets, 2,541 Roadside Stands, 94 Community Supported Agriculture Programs.
Fiscal Year 2018 19,284 Farmers; 3,167 Farmers’ Markets; 3,297 Roadside Stands; 100 CSAs; and 838,190 Participants.
Fiscal Year 2019 Missouri returned to SFMNP increasing the number of participating State Agencies from 53 to 54.
Fiscal Year 2020 Spirit Lake Tribe, ND joined the SFMNP, increasing the number of participating State agencies from 54 to 55.
Fiscal Year 2021 55 State agencies, including 44 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 9 federally recognized Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs).
Fiscal Year 2022 SFMNP served a total of 757,751 seniors from 57 State agencies, including 45 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and 9 federally recognized Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs), operated the SFMNP. Utah and the U.S. Virgin Islands joined SFMNP in 2022, increasing the number of participating State agencies from 55 to 57.
Fiscal Year 2023 57 State agencies operated the SFMNP. Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, (P.L. 107–171, 116 Stat. 134), Section 4402 as amended.
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, Part 105-334, Section 4201
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2 State agency means any of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, U.S. Territories, and Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs). State agencies include State Agriculture Departments, Agencies on Aging, Health Departments, and ITOs. Local agencies are nonprofit entities or local government agencies that certify eligible participants, issue SFMNP benefits, arrange for the distribution of eligible foods through CSA programs, and/or provide nutrition education. Each State agency desiring to administer the SFMNP must annually submit a State Plan of Operations and enter into a written agreement with FNS for the program's administration in the State agency's jurisdiction. New State agencies are selected based on the availability of funds after base grants for currently participating State agencies have been met. Participating State agencies select local agencies based on the concentration of eligible senior participants and access to farmers' markets. Persons eligible for the program are low-income seniors, generally defined as individuals at least 60 years old and with household incomes of not more than 185 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines published each year by the Department of Health and Human Services. Some State agencies accept proof of participation or enrollment in another means-tested program, such as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), for SFMNP eligibility. Individual participants apply for SFMNP benefits at authorized SFMNP local agencies. A signed Federal-State Supplemental Nutrition Programs Agreement (FNS-339) is necessary before program funds can be allocated to a participating SFMNP State agency. A signed Grant/Cooperative Agreement (FNS-529), with terms and conditions, will serve as the official grant agreement for American Rescue Plan Act funding. Preapplication coordination is required. Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Application is submitted through a State Plan of Operations as program regulations require. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. The State agency is responsible for the fiscal management of and accountability for SFMNP-related activities for farmers, farmers' markets, roadside stands, and CSA programs. Each State agency may decide whether to authorize individual farmers and farmers' markets separately or only farmers' markets. In addition, each State agency may determine whether to authorize roadside stands and/or CSA programs. The State agency may authorize a farmer to participate in a farmers' market, a roadside stand, and/or a CSA program simultaneously. All contracts or agreements entered into by the State agency for managing or operating farmers, farmers' markets, roadside stands, and/or CSA programs shall conform to the requirements of 2 CFR Part 200 and USDA implementing regulations 2 CFR Parts 400 and 415. Only farmers, farmers' markets, and/or roadside stands authorized by the State agency may redeem SFMNP benefits SFMNP funds are awarded by the Department on the basis of funding formulas to State agencies. If the available funds are insufficient to meet the base grant levels for current SFMNP grantees, a pro-rata reduction is applied to grant levels awarded above $75,000 for all participating SFMNP State agencies. If additional funds become available for the SFMNP, such funds are distributed pro-rata among current grantees to make whole their base grants for that fiscal year. Grant payments are made by a letter of credit. SFMNP American Rescue Plan Act grants are non-competitive grants. Applications are submitted by participating SFMNP State agencies to the FNS National Office for review and approval. By November 15 of each year, each applying or participating State agency shall submit to FNS for approval a State Plan of Operations for the following year as a prerequisite to receiving federal funds. FNS will provide written approval or denial of a completed State Plan of Operations or amendment within 30 days of receipt. Approval determination for SFMNP American Rescue Plan Act funding requests will be made approximately 30 to 90 days from the date of application submission. All decisions by FNS are final. This Program is authorized beginning October 1 of any calendar year and ending September 30 of the following calendar year. Not applicable. The SFMNP is administered through a federal/State agency partnership in which the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) awards cash grants to State agencies, including U.S. Territories and ITOs, to provide low-income seniors with benefits that can be exchanged for eligible foods at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and CSAs. The majority of grant funds must be used for food benefits. State agencies may use up to 10 percent of their grants for program administrative costs. Benefits are issued to eligible SFMNP participants to buy eligible foods from farmers, farmers’ markets, roadside stands, or CSAs authorized by the State agency to accept SFMNP benefits. The federal SFMNP benefit level, whether a household or individual, may not be less than $20 or no more than $50 per year per recipient. However, State agencies may also supplement the federal benefit level with State, local, or private funds. Not applicable. Not applicable. Each State agency must maintain complete records concerning SFMNP operations. Such records must comply with 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart D and USDA implementing regulations 2 CFR Parts 400 and 415 and the following requirements: (1) Records must include, but not be limited to, information pertaining to certification, financial operations, SFMNP benefit issuance and redemption, authorized outlet (farmers, farmers' markets, and CSA program) agreements, authorized outlet monitoring, CSA program agreements, invoices, delivery receipts, equipment purchases and inventory, nutrition education, fair hearings, and civil rights procedures; and (2) all records must be retained for a minimum of 3 years following the date of submission of the final expenditure report for the period to which the report pertains. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. SFMNP funds are allocated to State agencies annually and are available through September 30 of the fiscal year. State agencies may withdraw funds only as needed. SFMNP American Rescue Plan Act grant funds are available for up to two years, depending on the project timeline. Obligations must occur within the specified award period. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: letter Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Letter. https://www.fns.usda.gov/fns-regional-offices Mary Rose Conroy
1320 Braddock Place
Alexandria, VA 22314 US
maryrose.conroy@usda.gov
Phone: 7033052746 http://www.fns.usda.gov/sfmnp/senior-farmers-market-nutrition-program-sfmnp 12-3507-0-1-605 (Formula Grants) FY 22$24,357,718.00; FY 23 est $22,959,877.00; FY 24 Estimate Not Available FY 21$23,718,701.00; FY 20$21,083,410.00; FY 19$20,600,000.00; FY 18$20,600,000.00; FY 17$20,600,000.00; FY 16$20,273,000.00; - Food and Administrative Grants(Project Grants) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $50,000,000.00; FY 24 est $0.00; - Project Grants to implement SFMNP initiatives to maintain and improve supply chain resiliency from American Rescue Plan Act Funding FY 2022 State agency grants range from $9,925 to $1,991,363 (actual). FY 2023 State agency grants range from $9,925 to $1,875,899 (actual). 7 CFR Part 249, 2 CFR Part 200 Fiscal Year 2016 No Current Data Available. 52 State agencies, U.S. Territories and federally recognized Indian Tribal Organizations.
Fiscal Year 2017 52 State agencies, U.S. Territories and federally recognized Indian Tribal Organizations.
Fiscal Year 2019 54 State agencies, U.S. Territories and federally recognized Indian Tribal Organizations.
Fiscal Year 2020 SFMNP is operated by 55 State agencies, including 44 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 9 federally recognized Indian Tribal Organizations