Government Program Makes Healthy Food a Viable Option

(Page 2 of 2)

June 20, 2008
By Alexa Van de Walle 
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The social energy at the farmers market also provides a sense of community. Nutrition education is frequently a part of the farmers market experience. Classes for mothers and seniors range from mashing baby food from cooked vegetables to learning about how a diet rich in unprocessed and fresh foods can improve overall health and well being, including the prevention of chronic diet- and poverty-related illnesses, such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, cancer and heart disease.

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The coupons come with a directory of approved farmers markets and a list of eligible fruits, vegetables and herbs. (Processed foods, local meat and dairy products are not included but can be purchased with Food Stamps). So who’s eligible? Seniors who are 60 years of age and older and women who are breastfeeding, pregnant or have children under the age of 5, and have incomes less than 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines ($25,327 for a two-person household).

FMNP checks are typically distributed through local WIC Agencies and County Offices on Aging. In most states, seniors who are enrolled in the USDA Food Stamps, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Medicaid are pre-qualified for SFMNP. Women, infants (over 4 months old) and children that have been certified to receive WIC program benefits or who are on a waiting list for WIC certification are eligible to participate in the FMNP.

No matter whether you’re interested in local foods or just want to make every penny count this summer, if you think that you, or a friend or family member may be eligible for the Farmers Market Nutrition Program, you can learn more about the nutrition programs in your area by calling your local WIC or County Office on Aging. For a list of states, territories and Native American Reservations that participate, visit the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service Web sites:

For more information on Food Stamps and how to apply, visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/.

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  • motherreader 6/25/2008 10:53:59 AM

    Hi Debra,

    While it's true that there does not appear to be a Texas office for the senior program, Texas is operating the Farmers Market Nutrition Program through WIC. Here's your state agency contact:

    TEXAS
    Mike Montgomery, Director
    Texas Department of State Health Services
    Nutrition Services Section
    110O West 49th Street
    Austin, TX 78756-3199
    phone: (512) 458-7444
    fax: (512) 458-7446
    email: mike.montgomery@dshs.state.tx.us

    -Tabitha Alterman, Mother Earth News

  • Jo Carrasco 6/23/2008 3:14:19 PM

    In Texas, food stamps can be used to purchase vegetable SEEDS from any store that accepts food stamps. Other states may have similar allowances. I would not have known this except that I happened to ask at the local food stamp office."Give a man a bean, he'll eat for a day. Teach him to plant beans, he'll never go hungry." A good idea, I think, would be to encourage families to pool a few of their food stamp "dollars" to create community food gardens.
    Local food banks could grow their own, too, in order to feed the poor.

  • Debra 6/23/2008 2:20:41 PM

    For the first time this weekend, I went to my local farmer's market. It was scheduled to last from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. It was a very good thing I arrived early. By 8:45 a.m., nearly everyone was sold out! Unfortunately and in Texas, no such program, as mentioned in this article, exists.

  • Zoe B 6/21/2008 6:18:14 PM

    After a couple years of inclusion in the program, the disabled on assistance (SSI,Food Stamps,etc) are no longer permitted to receive this important access to fresh, local food.

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