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CDFA - Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program

CDFA - Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program

Phone number
916-214-1381 – CDFA SFMNP contact (Nevada County & general inquiries) none
Category
Senior
Food
Farmer
Auto tags
Eligibility
Adults 60 and older with low income (≤185 % FPL) living in California
Auto Summary
The Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program provides low‑income adults 60 + in California with a seasonal benefit card (June 15 – Nov 30, 2026) to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, cut herbs, and raw honey at authorized farmers’ markets; eligibility requires age 60+, California residency, and household income at or below 185 % of the federal poverty level, with income thresholds detailed per household size. Applications are made in person through each county’s local agency (Nevada and Placer counties route directly to CDFA). Benefits are first‑come‑first‑served, one card per senior, and unused funds do not carry over. Contact CDFA at 916‑214‑1381 or grants@cdfa.ca.gov for assistance.
Value
No content
Espanol
CDFA - Programa de Nutrición del Mercado de Agricultores para Personas Mayores
URL
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/SeniorFarmersMrktNutritionPrgm/
Last verified 2026-07-03 against CDFA's live program page, the 2026 participant-eligibility PDF, and the 2026 local-agency list (TechEmpower fact-check corpus; this program is also in the techempower.org/qualify screener pipeline). Note: an earlier version of this page quoted a "$50/season" amount and a May–September season — neither appears on CDFA's 2026 materials, so the dollar figure is removed and the season corrected below.
The Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) gives lower-income adults 60 and older a seasonal farmers'-market benefit card to buy locally grown fruits, vegetables, cut herbs, and raw honey from authorized farmers. It's USDA-funded and run in California by CDFA. The 2026 season runs June 15 through November 30, 2026, and benefits are first come, first served.

Who qualifies (2026 season)

All of these must be true:
  • You are 60 or older.
  • You live in California.
  • Your household income is at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. CDFA's 2026 table (effective July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027):
    • 1 person: $29,526/year ($2,461/month)
    • 2 people: $40,034/year ($3,337/month)
    • 3 people: $50,542/year ($4,212/month)
    • Each additional person: +$10,508/year (+$876/month)
  • You have not already received 2026 SFMNP benefits — one card per senior, per season (a married couple 60+ can each get one).
You self-certify your income and age on a short form — no pay stubs or tax returns.
[Source: CDFA 2026 SFMNP Participant Eligibility Requirements (PDF, bilingual EN/ES) (verified 2026-07-03)]

How to apply — Nevada County goes straight to CDFA

Applications are in person, each season, through your county's listed local agency. On CDFA's 2026 local-agency list, Nevada County (and Placer) route directly to CDFA — there is no separate county agency:
  • Phone: 916-214-1381
Call or email early in the season — benefits run out. For other counties, use the 2026 local-agency contact list (PDF).

Using the card

  • Spend it June 15 – November 30, 2026 at farmers' markets with FMNP-authorized farmers — look for the "WIC and Senior Benefits Welcome" sign at the stall; not every farmer at a market is authorized (authorized farmer list).
  • Eligible purchases: fresh fruits, vegetables, cut herbs, raw honey — nothing else.
  • Check your balance and transactions on the SFMNP Participant Portal (linked from CDFA's program page).

Common pitfalls

  • Don't wait — first come, first served; when the season's benefits are gone, that's it until next year.
  • One card per senior, not per household.
  • Authorized farmers only — look for the sign before you shop.
  • Use it before November 30, 2026 — the season closes and unused benefits don't carry over.

Where to get help

  • Dial 2-1-1 for free local referrals to senior food programs.

Sources