Federal grant programs / Department of Agriculture

Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (10.576)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$146 million
• Grant awards603
• Typical award$68,124
• Awarded in FY 2025$18.0 million
• Size rank696 of 1824
• Type of assistanceFormula grants

Key findings

• Annual funding fell from $20.1 million in fiscal 2021 to $18.0 million in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 696th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 78% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 49 states and territories.

What the program funds

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.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

Open opportunities

No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

State agency means any of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, U.S. Territories, and federally recognized Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs). State agencies may include State Agriculture Departments, Agencies on Aging, or Health Departments, and ITOs. Local agencies are nonprofit entities or local government agencies that certify eligible participants, issue SFMNP food benefits, arrange for 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 prior year grant levels 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.

What the money can and cannot pay for

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 income eligible 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. Benefits are issued to eligible 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.;

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Deadlines

Deadlines do not apply 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.

Award range and average, in the agency's words

FY 2023 State agency grants range from $9,925 to $1,875,899 (actual). FY 2024 State agency grants range from $9,925 to $1,740,137 (actual).

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2025: Provided low-income seniors with access to locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey and herbs.

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

State and local governments received 98% of the money, tribes 2.5%.

By state

47 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.