The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is a USDA-funded nutrition grant program that is administered by MDA in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Health and the Maryland Department of Aging. It offers a one-time, annual benefit of $50 that senior recipients can use between July and November to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and honey directly from farmers at farmers markets and farm stands across the state. Recipients will receive a card with an embedded QR code that they can use to pay for these items with participating farmers at their local farmers market or farm stand.
Many farmers markets also participate in the Maryland Market Money program. Participants using federal nutrition benefits can expand their purchasing power at participating markets by receiving matching funds from Maryland Market Money. When attending a participating market, locate the Information Booth to find out the process for how the different nutrition benefits are matched at that market.
In Maryland, 100+ authorized farmers markets throughout the State have at least one farmer who accepts FMNP with a total of 160 farmers who accept the benefit. Nearly 200 farmers are authorized to sell in farmers markets or at their farm stand.
There are income eligibility requirements for these programs. The application is active online on May 19th.
For questions, please reach out to Farmers Market Nutrition Program Coordinator Sara Servin at [email protected]
There is no cost or deadline to participate in this program!