By Stephen J. Brown, Jr.

For many seniors in today’s society, the rising cost of living can lead to difficult choices including sacrificing on healthy, nutritious foods. Those on a fixed income may find that between filling their monthly prescription(s), the cost of transportation to and from the doctor or other places they may need to go, and the purchasing of such essentials as proper clothing for their environment, something has to give. All too often, and quite regrettably, it is food that takes a back seat to other, seemingly more pressing matters.

While this is understandable, a poor diet may exacerbate existing health problems.

There is help available, however, in the form of a program set up by the United States Department of Agriculture in 2001 called the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). The program grants low-income seniors, “Coupons that can be exchanged for eligible foods at farmers markets, road-side stands, and community supported agriculture programs.” State information may be found online.

Purpose of the Program

The purpose of this program is three-fold:

• To provide low-income seniors with fresh, nutritious, locally grown fruits and vegetables
• To increase the consumption of agricultural commodities
• To aid in the development of new, locally supported programs to help out seniors, such as additional farmers markets and road-side stands in the community.

Grants for the program are administered by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, and the current funding provided by Congress is 15 million dollars a year. This enables hundreds of thousands of seniors to receive coupons each year.

For seniors with mobility problems, arrangements can often be made for delivery of the produce.

Benefits of the Program

The SFMNP helps seniors access locally grown fruits and vegetables for little or no cost. Furthermore, the program has been shown to be mutually beneficial to both seniors and the farmers involved. In fact, there have been cases where farmers have said that they had been prepared to stop growing fruits and vegetables until this program was implemented.

Studies have shown that eating more fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of such diseases as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, among many other chronic ailments.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the SFMNP, a senior must be at least 60 years old and have a household income that falls within the defined guidelines. If your income is more than 185 percent of the federal poverty income guideline published each year by the Department of Health and Human Services you may not eligible for the program. Check this Website to see if perhaps you might be eligible.

Although the program is nationwide and available in almost every state as well as the District of Columbia and several federally-recognized Indian tribal governments, the program does vary from state to state and agency to agency. Please check this Website for state contact information.

Once a senior has been deemed eligible for SFMNP benefits, they can start using them at authorized farmer’s markets, roadside stands, or any other community supported program. Again, check the Website for places in your area. Foods available through the program are limited to fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

What Foods are Included

In some areas where certain fruits and vegetables are prevalent it is possible that during the harvesting season the food available will be restricted to what is available locally, but generally a senior has their choice of many types of fresh produce.

Dried or potted produce is not available, nor are nuts or products such as honey, maple syrup, or cider. The program is strictly limited to fresh fruits and vegetables.

Participate in the Program

If you think you qualify for the program, or have an elderly relative or friend who may, contact the SFMNP Website.

Eating healthy is so important. Help those you love take the first steps to affordable, nutritious meals with this government program.

Anyone interested in setting up a community supported agriculture program is welcome to visit the Website for more information.