Farmers Market Nutrition Program

WIC farmers markets are held each year during the farmers market season, beginning May 1 and ending October 30. Benefits are issued through participating  health department clinics  across the state to WIC recipients one time per season on a first-come, first-served basis. To be eligible for WIC FMNP program benefits, you must be enrolled as a WIC recipient who is a/an:

• Pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding woman;
• Infant six months of age or older; or
• Child up to 5 years of age.

Senior farmers markets are held each year during the farmers market season, beginning May 1 and ending October 30. Benefits are issued through participating Area Agencies on Aging across the state to Senior participants one time per season on a first-come, first-served basis. To be eligible for Senior FMNP program benefits, you must:

• Be a Georgia resident;
• Be 60 years of age or older, or 55-59 years of age, deemed disabled, and currently living in a housing facility occupied primarily by older individuals where congregate nutrition services are provided, at the time of the market; and
• Have a household income at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

To qualify for the programs, a farmer must:

• Own his/her farm operation/business;
• Grow produce in the state of Georgia, or on land fifty (50) miles outside the Georgia border; and
• Grow a minimum of five (5) different types of fruits and vegetables.

Authorization of a farmers market for the Georgia FMNP/SFMNP gives approval for the authorized Georgia FMNP/SFMNP farmers at that location to accept Georgia FMNP/SFMNP benefits from Georgia FMNP/SFMNP customers.

To qualify for the programs, a farmers market must:

• Have two or more Georgia FMNP/SFMNP authorized farmers selling at the market;
• Have a fixed schedule of operation;
• Have an organizational structure including (a) a market name, (b) a sponsoring organization, and (c) a designated and bonded market manager; and
• Have a contact person who can respond promptly to public inquiries regarding the operating details of the farmers market.

Each year, before the beginning of the farmers market season, the Department of Public Health conducts farmer training. All current farmers/farmers markets and new applicants must attend the training. The one-day training provides farmers/farmers markets with program policies and procedures.

During the training, all new farmers/farmers markets will receive instructions on how to complete and submit an application package. In addition to completing the application package, a new farmer must also submit the following documents:

• A notarized deed or an owner-signed lease agreement for the land where the farmer’s produce is grown; and
• A letter from a local Cooperative Extension documenting the farmer’s status as a Georgia Grower by listing the specific types of crops the farmer produces.

Note: If a farm is “Certified Organic” and the farmer submits copies of such certification, the proof of land ownership or lease agreement and the local Cooperative Extension letter are not required.

Following the farmer/farmers market training, farmer applicants will receive an on-site or web-based/virtual pre-authorization farm inspection to verify the information listed on their application. If the farmer applicant passes the farm inspection, the application will then be processed for authorization. A farmer is officially authorized for both programs once a fully executed farmer agreement is received.  

In addition to completing the application package, a new farmers market must also submit the following documents:

• A copy of a Bond Certificate for the Market Manager. A Farmers Market is officially an authorized location for both programs when they receive a fully executed farmers market agreement.

2024 Farmer/Farmers Market Training Date(s) and Registration

• There are no additional training dates for 2024

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. mail:
   U.S. Department of Agriculture
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax:
   (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email:
   [email protected] 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

De acuerdo con la ley federal de derechos civiles y las normas y políticas de derechos civiles del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA), esta entidad está prohibida de discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo (incluyendo identidad de género y orientación sexual), discapacidad, edad, o represalia o retorsión por actividades previas de derechos civiles.

La información sobre el programa puede estar disponible en otros idiomas que no sean el inglés. Las personas con discapacidades que requieren medios alternos de comunicación para obtener la información del programa (por ejemplo, Braille, letra grande, cinta de audio, lenguaje de señas americano (ASL), etc.) deben comunicarse con la agencia local o estatal responsable de administrar el programa o con el Centro TARGET del USDA al (202) 720-2600 (voz y TTY) o comuníquese con el USDA a través del Servicio Federal de Retransmisión al (800) 877-8339.

Para presentar una queja por discriminación en el programa, el reclamante debe llenar un formulario AD-3027, formulario de queja por discriminación en el programa del USDA, el cual puede obtenerse en línea en: https://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource-files/usdaprogram-discrimination-complaint-form-spanish.pdf, de cualquier oficina de USDA, llamando al (866) 632-9992, o escribiendo una carta dirigida a USDA. La carta debe contener el nombre del demandante, la dirección, el número de teléfono y una descripción escrita de la acción discriminatoria alegada con suficiente detalle para informar al Subsecretario de Derechos Civiles (ASCR) sobre la naturaleza y fecha de una presunta violación de derechos civiles. El formulario AD-3027 completado o la carta debe presentarse a USDA por:

1. correo:
   U.S. Department of Agriculture
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; o
2. fax:
   (833) 256-1665 o (202) 690-7442; o
3. correo electrónico:
   [email protected] 

Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.