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Home > Programs -> Arizona Farmers' Market Nutrition ProgramLegislative Update: It's confirmed! The Governor has signed a state budget that includes $600,000 in the Arizona Department of Health Services (AZ DHS) budget for Senior Nutrition Programs. $160,000 of this will go to restore the senior component of the Arizona Farmers Market Nutrition Program which was cancelled as of Oct. 2005 due to lack of funding. The funding will be implemented in Spring 2008. This effort would not have succeeded without the help of January Contreras, Policy Advisory to Governor Napolitano, State Representatives Pete Hershberger and Linda Lopez, Marian McClure, Jackie Thrasher and Jennifer Burns, and State Senators Paula Aboud, Amanda Aguirre, Tim Bee, Jorge Luis Garcia, Barbara Leff, Richard Miranda, and Rebecca Rios. Community advocates Ginny Hildebrand, Association of Arizona Food Banks and Tony Bruno and Kelly Watters of the Community Food Bank, Tucson also took lead roles. Many thanks to AZ DHS Director Sue Gerard, Bureau Chief Margaret Tate and Karen Sell, Chief, Office of Nutrition and Chronic Disease Prevention for their leadership in offering the Arizona Farmers Market Nutrition Program, that helps low-income women and children enrolled in WIC, and now vulnerable seniors, to eat better, while supporting our state's farmers markets and market farmers. To find your Legislators: www.azleg.gov To Contact the Governor: The Honorable Janet Napolitano AZ FMNP expands access to nutritious food $160,000 would provide vouchers to approximately 4,500 low-income seniors at targeted farmers markets in 10 counties throughout Arizona. The vouchers will enable seniors to shop for fresh healthy food choices, increase their socialization and activity opportunities as they visit the markets.
Economic development for small-scale farmers Funding for the senior component of AZ FMNP will bring new income to Arizona’s small-scale farmers that sell their produce at the markets as each voucher is redeemed. For every voucher spent at a farmers’ market, almost 100% of the money stays in the state and gets spent again in the community by the farmers – for seed, labor, equipment, fuel, and local basic services. AZ FMNP contributes to public health as well as to economic development.
A Part of the Hunger Solution AZ FMNP is a small program, not meant by any means to meet the entire food needs of vulnerable seniors, but to add to a spectrum of assistance that supports their ability to access adequate, affordable and fresh healthy foods throughout the year. Many of the markets that participate in AZ FMNP also accept food stamps. In addition, the price points at the markets are competitive with grocery store prices, while the quality and freshness of the produce at the markets is far superior.
And because AZ FMNP is a small program it will probably never make it to the top of anybody’s priority list to compete with transportation needs etc. But it is a valuable program that increases healthy food, healthy families and healthy farms. We are asking your consideration to help this program be restored and become stable, effective and beneficial for vulnerable seniors throughout the state.
Background Senior FMNP’s operate in 42 other states, the District of Columbia, 2 US Territories and 3 Native American Tribes. These entities receive federal funds for the program that require additional state money for administration. There is currently a cap on federal funds so no new states may apply for a while. with this state funding ADHS can apply for the federal funds once the cap has been lifted.
ADHS has never had a line item in their budget for this program. It has been operating the senior FMNP with private funds that were raised by the Association of Arizona Food Banks in 2001 and donated to ADHS and some funding that the AZ Dept. of Economic Security Community Services Administration was able to provide for one year only. The private funds have just about run out also.
General Program Information The Arizona Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (AZ FMNP) is a program that was launched in May 2002. The program goals include:
Arizona growers and Farmers' Markets will be selected to participate in the fourth year of the program that begins in March 2006 and continues through September 2006. The program will provide opportunities for Authorized Growers to sell their fresh locally-grown fruits and vegetables at approved farmers' markets throughout the state during these months. Participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) may receive a $30 booklet of checks (10 checks in $3 allotments) to use to buy locally-grown produce at Approved Markets around the state. Approximately 8,000 WIC clients will receive AZ FMNP checks during the 2006-07 season. To become an Authorized Grower or an Approved Farmers' Market, you must submit an application, sign a program agreement, participate in training and follow program guidelines. AZ FMNP is administered by the Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Nutrition Services, in collaboration with the Association of Arizona Food Banks, Community Food Connections, and Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. Funding for the program is provided by the Arizona State Legislature, the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Supporting partners for the program include the Arizona Department of Agriculture, the Arizona Department of Economic Security, the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension and Arizona's farmers' markets and growers. For more information to be considered as an Authorized Grower or an Approved Farmers' Market in the AZ FMNP program, please contact:
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