Federal Grant Award Summary

The Maryland Department of Agriculture received a $186,215 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service under the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP, CFDA 10.576), effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. This award supports the provision of benefits to low-income seniors in Maryland, enabling them to purchase fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey, and fresh-cut herbs directly from authorized vendors at farmers markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture programs.

The grant funding supports both benefit distribution and program administration activities. Benefits are issued to eligible seniors in the form of checks, coupons, or electronic transfers that can be redeemed at participating local agricultural vendors, thereby simultaneously improving senior nutrition outcomes and providing direct market support to local farmers and agricultural producers. The award is structured as a non-competitive grant with payments made by letter of credit, and the recipient must maintain comprehensive records for a minimum of three years following final expenditure report submission in compliance with applicable federal regulations.