MDA to Introduce Farmers Market Finder – A Mobile Site for FMNP Participants

ANNAPOLIS, MD –  Beginning June 1, participants in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), Seniors in the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) and participants in the WIC Fruit & Vegetable Check (FVC) Program will be able to find farmers markets near them on the Farmers Market Finder, a soon-to-be-launched mobile site. The purpose of the mobile site is to encourage low income residents to use their checks at farmers markets and increase overall check redemption. Maryland is the first state to pilot this program.

“Studies show that growing numbers of low-income Americans who may not be able to afford computers and in-home internet access are relying on smartphones as their primary means of reaching the internet,” said MDA Marketing Chief Mark Powell. “While the FMNP and WIC programs provide the opportunity for low income participants to spend their federal assistance dollars buying produce at farmers markets, participants need to know how to find the farmers markets where they can spend their checks. We will still circulate printed materials, but we see this as a low-cost, effective way to provide them with additional information and to encourage them to use their checks at farmers markets to buy to fresh produce. These checks also provide local farmers with additional income at the farmers markets, so we encourage their use in any way we can.”

The Farmers Market Finder will list all farmers markets in the state that have farm vendors who accept FMNP/SFMNP & FVC checks. The site will also remind users how to use their checks at farmers market, remind them what foods are eligible for purchase, and provide links to videos and photos of farmers who participate in the FMNP program. The app will also provide recipes for fresh produce dishes. Participants can also opt to receive mobile text messages every month to remind them to use their FMNP Checks.

The FMNP/SFMNP is a USDA Supplemental Nutrition Grant Program that provides grants to state agencies to provide checks to low-income participants. Checks can be used to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, cut herbs and honey (Seniors only) at farmers’ markets. The top three reasons participants give for not using their checks is: Not knowing where to find the farmers markets, not knowing how to prepare or cook the produce purchased and not remembering to use checks before they expire. The mobile site is designed to address those reasons.

Last year in Maryland, 58,825 FMNP checks were used by WIC participants and 42,284 SFMNP checks were used by Senior participants at farmers markets. A total of $505,561 was paid to Maryland farmers who are authorized to accept these checks.

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