Arizona Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)

The Arizona Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) is a federal program in collaboration with Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), aimed at providing nutritious supplemental food items and nutrition counseling to low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, children at or below the age of 5, and infants. In Arizona, the program is administered by Pinnacle Prevention and the Arizona Department of Health Services.

The main objective of this program is to offer fresh and healthy fruits and vegetables that are locally grown in the state of Arizona. It is also meant to educate and encourage people to purchase from farmers’ markets as well as roadside stalls to promote their sales.

Women, children below and at the age of five, and infants who are above the age of 4 months who are already participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are eligible to apply for this program. If you are on the waiting list for WIC, you are also eligible to participate in the program.

The participants of the program are offered six vouchers on an annual basis. These vouchers are to be used by the maximum date mentioned on every voucher. The FMNP vouchers amount to $5 ranging up to $30.

According to the funding available to the program, the number of vouchers issued may differ every year.

Guidelines for participants

The Arizona FMNP has provided instructions for the people participating in this program:

Only applicants already enrolled in the WIC can be eligible for the program. The coupons received by the participants may only be used to purchase food items at farmers’ markets, farmers, and growers authorized by the Arizona FMNP. Each stall at the market will have a sign indicating that it is an FMNP authorized stall and participants can purchase goods using their coupon at the stall.

All coupons are given to the participants by September 30th each year and the last date for carrying out purchases through the coupon is November 15th. Participants can buy no other food items except for fruits, vegetables, and herbs. The FMNP farmers are not permitted to provide change to the customer. Participants should make purchases that amount to the full value of the coupon. FMNP will not be responsible for replacing any coupons that are lost or stolen

If for some reason, participants cannot be present to collect the coupon themselves or to shop at the farmers market, a replacement is allowed to do those tasks for you provided they have your yellow CSFP card. Participants cannot purchase any food items that might be grown outside the state of Arizona e.g kiwi, pineapple, and mango. Other foods such as meats, pickles, beans, nuts, jams, and dry beans are not categorized under the FMNP and cannot be bought using the program’s coupon. Any other item that is not good cannot be purchased using this coupon.

FMNP Farmers Market Application

Farmers’ Markets can apply to participate in the FMNP program provided the market abides by the following criteria:

• Reside in the vicinity of WIC or CSFP clinics as well as the participants of the program
• Business hours must be at least one day a week for four hours
• While the market is operating, a manager must be monitoring the market
• A complete list of farmers who are a part of the market must be delivered. The farmers must also be authorized by the FMNP and there must be at least three authorized farmers at one market
• The authorized farmers must provide a detailed Crop Plan to the FMNP
• Every market should observe the instructions and regulations provided by the FMNP and a supervisor should ensure they are being followed
• The Federal law and the policy of the US Department of Agriculture against discrimination must be adhered to.
• A proper method must be followed to deal with any Civil Rights complaints.
• The Market must have liability insurance.

Farmers Market Authorization

To receive approval to operate a farmers’ market under the FMNP program, the following steps must be adhered to:

• The Arizona Department of Health Services will conduct a training session for which the manager of the market is required to be present in person.
• The State of Arizona Department of Health Services Farmers’ Market Agreement is provided to the participants at the training session which must be submitted
• Evidence of liability insurance must also be submitted to the department.
• The Market Information application should be submitted both at the time the participant is applying for the program and then every proceeding year
• All rules and regulations detailed in the Manual for Farmers’ Market Managers must be abided by.

For further information about the program, the state agency can be contacted:

Arizona Department of Economic Security
1789 W. Jefferson Street
Phoenix, AZ 85007
United States

Gloria Garcia-Hernandez, Program Manager
602-771-2790
GGarcia-Hernandez@azdes.gov

Arizona FMNP
info@azfmnp.org
1-833-836-8253.

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