A trip to the farmers market can help an older adult bring home healthy food, spend time with neighbors and local farmers, and keep food dollars circulating in Utah communities.
The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, or SFMNP, provides eligible older adults with $50 in coupons each year. Participants can use their coupons to purchase fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey from authorized farmers at participating farmers markets, farm stands, and bulk-purchase events.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Administration funds the program nationally, and the Utah Department of Health and Human Services’ Community Food Security Program administers SFMNP at the state level. At its core, the program is built around a simple idea with powerful ripple effects: when older Utahns can afford more local produce, both seniors and farmers benefit.
Why fresh food access matters
To qualify, a participant must be at least 60 years old, live in Utah, and have a household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines.
For an older adult living on a fixed income, $50 can make it easier to buy fresh food that might otherwise be left out of the grocery budget. Recent Salt Lake County Office of Regional Development and Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute research found that more than 7,600 Utah households with an adult age 60 or older rely on public assistance to afford groceries.
Most older Utahns also do not eat recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables. In 2021, only 7.6% of Utah adults age 65 and older reported eating at least two fruits and three vegetables each day. While SFMNP eligibility begins at age 60, the data shows the broader need to make fresh produce easier to afford and find.
Cost and limited access are common barriers to eating fruits and vegetables, especially for older adults with lower incomes. SFMNP addresses these barriers by incentivizing seniors to buy fresh produce from local farmers. One SFMNP participant described what that benefit meant to them: ““The food was absolutely the best since food prices have gone up so much. I had fresh vegetables and fruits every week and didn’t have to worry about the cost.”
More than a food incentive
SFMNP also gives older adults a reason to get out, meet people, and connect with their community.
At a farmers market, seniors can choose the produce they enjoy, talk with the people who grew it, and ask questions about what is in season. Some return throughout the summer and build relationships with familiar farmers, volunteers, and market staff.
These interactions make farmers markets more welcoming and intergenerational. Seniors shop alongside families and younger customers, share tips about a perfect peach or tomato, and help create a stronger sense of community.
Traditional farmers markets do not work for everyone, so Utah offers other ways to participate. At bulk-purchase events, community sites such as senior centers or local health departments partner directly with farmers and host SFMNP-specific markets. These events can help seniors who face transportation or mobility barriers, or who do not feel comfortable navigating a busy farmers market.
Utah also allows participants to choose a proxy who can pick up coupons and shop for them.
Supporting Utah farmers
SFMNP has two equally important goals: helping low-income seniors access fresh, healthy food and supporting local agriculture.
That second goal can make the program feel different from other kinds of assistance. Some older adults hesitate to accept help because they worry someone else needs it more. With SFMNP, participants know that their coupons directly pay a Utah farmer.
They are not only receiving support. They are also supporting a local farm.
Farmers describe SFMNP as a valuable source of seasonal income. Last season several participating markets redeemed between 95% and 100% of the coupons they distributed, which means nearly every available dollar went directly to local farmers.
Since Utah launched its pilot program, participation has grown rapidly. Enrollment increased from 630 seniors in 2022 to 2,045 in 2024, which is an increase of more than 224%. Through 2025, SFMNP had served about 4,700 seniors and directed nearly $300,000 to local farmers.
Demand, however, has grown faster than available funding. In 2025, some eligible seniors could not receive coupons after participating sites ran out. Local farmers also reported lower program sales, demonstrating the impact SFMNP has on both the older adults who use the coupons and the farmers who accept them.
A triple win
Nutrition incentive programs like the SFMNP create what we call a “triple win”:
- Utah seniors bring home more fresh, healthy food.
- Utah farmers earn more money through direct sales.
- Local economies grow stronger because more food dollars remain in Utah communities.
SFMNP’s impact reaches beyond one purchase. Seniors gain healthy food and opportunities for social connection. Farmers gain customers and income. Markets and community sites become stronger parts of their communities
Check your eligibility
Older adults, family members, caregivers, and neighbors can start by checking the eligibility requirements and finding a participating location.
The SFMNP hotline is hosted by Utahns Against Hunger, a non-profit organization working on increasing access to food through advocacy, outreach, and education. Hotline staff can answer questions, explain how the program works, and help callers find the nearest participating site.
Visit SFMNPUtah.org or call 1-800-453-3663 to learn more.
$50 can make a big difference. SFMNP helps seniors bring home fresh food, supports the farmers who grow it, and strengthens the community they both call home.
