Release No. 0156.04
Contact: Susan Acker (703) 305-2286
Jean Daniel (202) 720-3310
USDA Awards $16.7 Million in
Grants to 41 States and 6 Indian Tribal Organizations
for the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Programs
WASHINGTON, April 23, 2004 - Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced fiscal year 2004 grant awards to 47 state agencies and tribal organizations for the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP).
"The Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program provides an opportunity for low-income seniors to improve their nutrition by increasing their consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables," said Veneman. "The Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program also benefits local farmers because it brings additional customers to their markets. Recipients use the coupons and often some of their own resources for farm products."
The 2002 Farm Bill authorizes and provides $15 million annually to operate the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program for fiscal years 2003 through 2007. All 40 state agencies that received funding in 2003 will receive funding in 2004. In addition, 4 new States - Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, and Rhode Island - and 3 new Indian Tribal Organizations -Choctaw (MS), Five Sandoval (NM), and San Felipe (NM) - will also receive funding.
"The Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program is a win-win program for communities across the country" said Veneman. "Every day the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program is improving the nutrition of participating low-income seniors who may be nutritionally at risk by helping them purchase fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets.
The SFMNP, established as a pilot program in 2001, provides low-income seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for fresh produce at farmers' markets, roadside stands and community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs. The SFMNP is intended to provide fresh, nutritious, locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs to low-income seniors and to increase the consumption of agricultural commodities by expanding or aiding in the development of farmers' markets and other outlets.
The SFMNP is expected to serve approximately 600,000 low-income senior citizens nationwide through grants to state agencies and Indian Tribal governments. This year, over 11,000 farmers at more than 3,400 markets, roadside stands or CSA programs will accept coupons for fresh produce.
SFMNP PROGRAM FY 2004 GRANTS
| STATE AGENCY | AWARD |
| Alabama Alaska Arkansas California Chickasaw Nation, OK |
$1,000,000 70,498 96,335 673,430 144,845 |
|
Choctaw, MS* Colorado* Connecticut District of Columbia Five Sandoval, NM* |
15,215 15,000 91,148 142,394 20,000 |
|
Florida Grand Traverse, MI Hawaii Illinois Indiana |
96,576 8,694 575,246 777,194 40,437 |
|
Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine |
560,000 196,020 276,302 279,584 892,925 |
|
Maryland Massachusetts Michigan* Minnesota Mississippi* |
114,607 56,900 75,000 99,776 70,000 |
|
Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire |
238,888 43,313 251,127 141,579 75,744 |
|
New Jersey New York North Carolina Ohio Oregon |
683,109 1,499,059 44,263 1,309,052 772,174 |
|
Osage, OK Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island * San Felipe, NM * |
30,672 1,500,000 940,681 198,551 16,560 |
|
South Carolina Tennessee Vermont Virginia Washington |
650,000 504,630 87,291 421,642 123,720 |
|
West Virginia Wisconsin |
514,144 273,254 |
| Total | $16,707,579 |
| * New SFMNP State agency for FY 2004 | |
Further information about the SFMNP is available at http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/
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