WIC and Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program
The Connecticut Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) is a congressionally authorized program administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture and jointly funded by the State of Connecticut and the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS). This program provides vouchers to Women, Infants and Children (WIC) who are identified as “nutritionally at risk,” to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at WIC-certified farmers’ markets - to find a WIC-certified market please visit our Farmers’ Market listing on the Publications Page. Each eligible recipient receives five (5) three-dollar ($3) vouchers ($15 per recipient, per market season). In 2007, over 52,000 eligible WIC clients received $15 in vouchers. Local WIC agencies statewide will receive FMNP vouchers from the Department of Agriculture.
Connecticut farmers that participate in farmers’ markets are reimbursed the face value of the vouchers, thereby enhancing the farmers’ earnings and supporting their participation in farmers’ markets. To be eligible to accept these vouchers, a farmer must have signed a Letter of Agreement and submitted a Crop Plan with the Connecticut Department of Agriculture. Certified farmers may deposit all FMNP vouchers at any Connecticut financial institution (bank, savings and loan, credit union, etc.) by appropriately endorsing each voucher. PLEASE NOTE: Any produce farmer who wishes to participate in a WIC Certified Farmers’ Market should contact the CT Department of Agriculture. Farmers must go through a short certification meeting followed by production area verification and submit the following forms prior to participating in a WIC certified market:
The Connecticut Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) is administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture. This program is similar in most respects to the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. Seniors from selected towns and cities who live in subsidized, low-income housing, are enrolled in renter-rebate programs, and/or subscribe to congregate meal programs are eligible to participate. Each eligible recipient receives five (5) three-dollar ($3) vouchers ($15 per recipient, per market season), which can be redeemed at certified Farmers’ Markets.
Vouchers are issued to elderly housing sites and/or town social service offices by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture. The vouchers are then distributed to seniors by staff and volunteers of the elderly site. The Connecticut Department of Agriculture cannot send vouchers to individual seniors.
|
