The New York State Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) allows low-income older adults to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at participating farmers’ markets across the state.

The SFMNP provides a one-time $20 allotment, as coupons, to income eligible seniors enrolled in Senior Nutrition Programs. The checks (five $4 vouchers) are redeemable for fresh fruits and vegetables at participating farmers’ markets.

The program promotes improved nutrition through increased consumption of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. It also expands the market for these locally grown foods and supports local farmers (a major component of New York's economy.)

To qualify for the program, a person must be at least 60 years of age, receiving benefits through Social Security, public assistance, food stamps, HEAP, or section 8 housing, or earn less than $1,670 per month for a single senior or $2,246 for a couple.  People sign up for SFMNP through their local office for the aging.

Seniors receive one booklet of checks per household. In upstate New York, seniors receive their checks from local senior centers. In New York City, checks are issued from congregate meal sites or the Department of Health’s Food and Nutrition sites. 

This program also provides benefits to nutritionally at-risk families enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The program is administered through a collaboration between the NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets, the NYS Department of Health, the NYS Office for the Aging, and Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Currently, New York State has approximately 450 farmers' markets and 1,000 farmers enrolled, and is the largest program in the country. This year, New York State expects to receive $1.9 million in federal funding, which covers approximately 10 percent of the need statewide.

Many low-income older adults who participate in the SFMNP may be eligible for, but not receiving, food stamp benefits.  Since the Food Stamp Program provides a more substantial benefit amount—the average older adult receives about $1,000 per year in food stamp benefits—the Nutrition Consortium of and NYS Ag and Markets are collaborating to target these potentially eligible older adults with food stamp information. Through a growing project, people may use their food stamp benefits at many farmers' markets as well.