Cap senior FM food

The Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service awarded NY State Agriculture & Markets $1.548 million on October 1, 2025, under the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (CFDA 10.576) for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, with performance in New York.

The award funds the administration and delivery of benefits to low-income seniors in the form of checks, coupons, or electronic benefits redeemable for fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey, and fresh-cut herbs at farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs. The program is formula-based; USDA allocates funds to state agencies on a statutory funding formula, with grant payments made by letter of credit.

NY State Agriculture & Markets, a child entity of the State of New York headquartered in Albany, acts exclusively as a federal grant recipient across food safety, agricultural pest surveillance, and nutrition programs. The agency participates in federal-state partnerships managed principally by USDA (APHIS, Agricultural Marketing Service, Food and Nutrition Service) and FDA. This award represents one of approximately 104 Food and Nutrition Service grants held by the recipient, split between the Food Distribution Division (nutrition assistance) and the Child Nutrition Division (farm-to-school initiatives).

State agencies must submit a State Plan of Operations for FNS approval by November 15 each year as a prerequisite to receiving federal funds and must maintain complete records on benefit issuance and redemption, authorized outlet agreements, and outlet monitoring for a minimum of three years following submission of the final expenditure report.