Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program

 If you reside in Lewis, Mason or Thurston County and are interested in adding your name to the waitlist, please fill out the online application linked at the bottom of this page and you will be notified of your status.

Program Overview: 
The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) provides older adults in Lewis, Mason, and Thurston counties the opportunity to purchase fresh, nutritious, unprepared, unprocessed, locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey and fresh-cut herbs from authorized farmers markets and roadside stands. Participants also receive nutrition educational materials including recipes, nutrient values, food preparation and storage information.

Another benefit of this program is that, by increasing the consumption of local agricultural commodities, it helps aid in the development of new farmers markets and roadside stands along with community-supported agriculture programs.

Qualifications
To be eligible for SFMNP, you must meet all of the following requirements:

• You must be 60 years old or older (or 55+ if you are Native American/Alaska Native)
• Your income must be below 185% of Federal Poverty Level. That means:
  • $28,953 annual or $2,413 monthly income for 1 person
  • $39,128 annual or $3,261 monthly income for 2 people
  • For larger households, add $848 for each additional person
• You must be a resident of Washington State in Lewis, Mason or Thurston County

Ways to Apply

• LMTAAA will begin accepting applications for the upcoming 2025 Farmers Market season beginning Tuesday, April 15.

Market Season
During SFMNP season, cards will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis. Once an application has been received and screened for eligibility, the applicant will be mailed a preloaded card with up to $80 in SFMNP benefits to be used at participating farmers markets and roadside stands throughout Washington State.  

SFMNP checks are valid during harvest season, which is June 1 thru October 31, 2025. 

Where to Shop
A list of local participating farmers markets and roadside stands will be provided to each recipient of SFMNP cards. All participating farmers markets and roadside stands will have a sign posted that they accept SFMNP cards. A complete list of all participating farmers markets and roadside stands throughout Washington State is available upon request.

FAQs

• Cards are not mailed out until the end of May 2025. If you apply early, please be patient as we cannot mail them earlier since the card is not available for use until June 1st.
• You can track available balances through the SFMNP mobile app or by calling the number on the back of your card.
• No cash change will be issued for purchases, and no State or local taxes will be collected on purchases of food with cards.
• Caregivers or family members may purchase produce with the SFMNP card on behalf of an eligible participant when a proxy form is filled out by the senior designating someone else to make purchases for them. Proxy forms are available upon request.

Note: SFMNP applications and proxy forms are available in other languages upon request.