Food
Senior Farmers' Market coupons
The Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program gives people 60 and older with low incomes coupons for fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey and herbs. You use them at approved farmers' markets, roadside stands and farm-share programs. Each state runs its own program, and not every state takes part.
Who may qualify
| Age | 60 or older (states may also include Native Americans 55 or older) Source: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives) (source 4) |
|---|---|
| Income limit | Household income no more than 185% of the federal poverty guidelines Source: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives) (source 4) |
| If you already get SNAP or the CSFP food box | Some states accept that as proof your income is low enough |
| Where you live | Your state may require you to live in the area a local agency serves, but not for a set length of time Source: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives) (source 4) |
What you may get
| Federal coupons each year (most states) | $20 to $50 a year |
|---|---|
| What the coupons buy | Fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey and herbs |
Source: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives) (source 5)
Good to know
- Not every state takes part. USDA's contacts page shows which states run the program and who to call in each.
- Coupons can't buy dried fruit, nuts, eggs, meat, cheese, seafood, maple syrup, cider or potted plants.
- A few states that ran the program in 2006 may keep their 2006 benefit level, even if it's under $20.
- In a July 2025 notice on benefits for non-citizens, USDA said that although the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program counts as a "federal public benefit" under the 1996 welfare law, it continues to run the program under a separate section of that law (8 U.S.C. 1615) that takes precedence.
- If you have questions about how immigration status affects benefits, a free legal aid office can help. The Legal Services Corporation's finder lists the one near you.
Sources: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration (source 3), Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives) (source 5), Legal Services Corporation (source 7)
What people get wrong
MythI get SNAP or the senior food box, so I can't get farmers' market coupons.
Not true. Some states accept your SNAP or CSFP enrollment as proof that your income is low enough.
Sources
- USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, FNS-101: Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program contacts (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives), 7 CFR 249.6: Participant eligibility (SFMNP) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives), 7 CFR 249.8: Level of benefits and eligible foods (SFMNP) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, PRWORA: Interpretation of "Federal Public Benefit" (notice of July 10, 2025) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Legal Services Corporation, I Need Legal Help (find LSC-funded legal aid) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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