Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) 2024 Season

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service has been running the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) since 2001, with the annual Farm Bill passed by Congress providing federal funding for the program. The USDA awards SFMNP grants to States, U.S. Territories and Federally recognized Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) to provide low-income seniors with eligible foods at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture (CSA) programs. The majority of grant funds must be used for benefits. State agencies may use up to 10 percent of their grants for program administrative costs.

In Rhode Island, the SFMNP is administered by Rhode Island DEM Division of Agriculture and Forest Environment in partnership with the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging (OHA) and Farm Fresh Rhode Island (FFRI). In 2023, the program provided an estimated 9,500 boxes of fresh Rhode Island food to eligible seniors.

2024 Income Eligibility Guidelines:

1. Are you 60+ years of age; or are you disabled and currently living in a housing facility where congregate nutrition services are provided?
2. Is your household income less than or equal to the limits provided above?
3. Are you a Rhode Island resident?

If you answered yes to all three questions, you are eligible for RI SFMNP benefits. SFMNP benefits are limited to one issuance per household per year.

The SFMNP is administered through a Federal/State partnership in which the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) provides cash grants to State agencies. In Rhode Island, SFMNP is administered by Rhode Island DEM's Division of Agriculture and Forest Environment.

As a prerequisite to receiving Federal funds for the SFMNP, each applying or participating State agency must submit an annual State Plan describing how the State agency intends to implement, operate and administer all aspects of the SFMNP within its jurisdiction.

Nutrition education is provided to SFMNP recipients through the University of Rhode Island. Program sign up assistance and pick up location coordination is provided by RI Office of Healthy Aging. These partnerships help encourage SFMNP recipients to improve and expand their diets by adding fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as to educate them on how to select, store and prepare the fresh fruits and vegetables.

If you have not received or cannot use a benefit card, you may be eligible for a produce box delivery. To sign up to receive a produce box, please complete the Produce Box Sign-up Form. Participants can only receive one type of benefit throughout the season. You cannot receive both a produce box and a benefit card.

The SFMNP is administrated by the Department of Environmental Management and is a separate program from the RI Department of Health and Human Services’ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Seniors with SNAP/EBT benefits may also participate in the SFMNP by signing up to receive their SFMNP benefits card.

• SFMNP benefit cards can be used to purchase food directly from participating farmstands and farmers market vendors.
• SFMNP cards are loaded once, at the beginning of the season with an SFMNP benefit of $50 and must be spent by November 30, 2024.

• SNAP/EBT cards can be used at grocery stores and certain farmers' markets, such as ones that accept FFRI’s Bonus Bucks.
• SNAP/EBT cards are loaded each month with a SNAP benefit and can be “carried over” for up to nine months.

The SFMNP benefits card is preloaded with $50 that can be used at eligible farmers markets and farm stands in exchange for local produce, herbs, and honey.

The SFMNP is separate from the Department of Human Services’ (DHS) SNAP SNAP Eat Well, Be Well (EWBW) Pilot Incentive Program, which rewards the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables at participating stores for customers using SNAP benefits. DHS’s EWBW program, the first statewide incentive program of its kind across the nation, issues the benefits on a SNAP EBT card that can be used at both grocery stores and certain farmers’ markets. The new Eat Well, Be Well program will issue $.50 of SNAP for every dollar spent on fresh fruits and vegetables at participating stores up to $25 additional benefits each month. For more information about the EWBW program and the stores that are participating, you can go to the SNAP page on the DHS website at www.dhs.ri.gov. By participating in both SFMNP and EWBW, low-income seniors can maximize their access to healthy food.

Yes! We LOVE to cook! Cooking and healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated, time-consuming, or confusing.

Our easy recipes and quick videos make it a snap. For recipes and information on how to prepare fresh fruits and vegetables visit web.uri.edu/SnapEd, email nutrition@etal.uri.edu, or call 1-800-FOOD-URI.

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Find out what is in season.

Yes. If an eligible individual cannot sign up themselves, they may select another individual as a proxy to sign up and receive the benefit card on their behalf. Homebound seniors who may not be able to use a SFMNP benefit card can choose to get a produce box delivered to their home instead of receiving a card.

You can apply to participate in the SFMNP through your local senior center or other applicable nutrition program. The application process involves affirming that you meet the age, income, and state residency requirements. A more in-depth explanation of what is required for program eligibility can be found in the application. You can pick up your card the same day you fill out the application.

Listed below are the locations at which you may receive a card.

1. Bring your card to a participating producer. You’ll know if a producer accepts SFMNP benefits because they will display an “SFMNP accepted here” sign at either the farmers' market or their farm stand.
2. Select eligible foods from a participating producer and present your card.
3. The producer will scan the QR code on the card with their phone or other mobile device.
4. You will review the price on the producer's device to accept the purchase.
5. The producer will confirm your purchase, and you will receive your fresh, local produce or honey.

No, all you’ll need is the physical card! The farmer will know what to do with it. It works like a credit card or gift card.

Below are documents which list farmstands and farmers markets in Rhode Island that accept SFMNP benefits:

Any participating producer will be able to check your SFMNP balance before a transaction is processed.

Lost or stolen cards can be replaced. Please email an SFMNP program coordinator at dem.sfmnp@dem.ri.gov, or call this customer service line (866) 237-4814 for more information. If you lose your card at the farmers market, the market manager there may be able to help.

If you have any additional questions, please contact us at dem.sfmnp@dem.ri.gov.

For those who participate in the SNAP/EBT program that have lost or damaged their EBT card, you can request a replacement by going online to www.ebtedge.com or by calling RI EBT Card Customer Service Line (ebtEDGE) at 1-888-979-9939. As a third option, you can also fill out the following replacement EBT form and submit it to DHS. More resources are available on the DHS website.