Cap FM food expense (o)

The Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service awarded the Connecticut Department of Agriculture $118,799 on October 1, 2025, under the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (CFDA 10.572), a formula grant funding the distribution of FMNP coupons to eligible WIC participants for redemption at farmers' markets and roadside stands in Connecticut.

The award funds the fiscal 2025–2026 program year, with period of performance from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. The Connecticut Department of Agriculture, through its Bureau of Agricultural Development and Research Preservation, administers the coupon distribution to income-eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 who participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. Eligible foods under FMNP are fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs purchased directly from approved farmers, farmers' markets, or roadside stands. The program expands awareness and sales at farmers' markets by supplementing regular WIC benefits with dedicated purchasing power for local produce.

Funding is provided via federal–state agreement. Funds are obligated in the amount of $118,799, allocated to Connecticut as part of the annual formula-based distribution to state agencies. The FMNP program runs on a federal fiscal year cycle (October 1 through September 30) and allows state agencies to distribute funds through a letter of credit payment mechanism.