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Georgia WIC 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.
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Georgia Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
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.
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How to Become an Authorized Farmer
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.
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Farmer Training
Each year, before the beginning of the farmers market season, the Department of Public Health conducts farmer training. All current farmers and new applicants must attend the training as it provides farmers with program policies and procedures.
During the training, all new farmers 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 a notarized deed or an owner-signed lease agreement for the land where the farmer’s produce is grown.
Note: If a farm is “Certified Organic” and the farmer submits copies of such certification, the proof of land ownership or lease agreement is not required.
Following the farmer 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.
2025 Farmer Training Date(s) and Registration:
Farmers Market Nutrition Program
The Georgia Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) are federally funded programs that provide WIC recipients and eligible senior participants with
fresh,
locally grown, unprocessed fruits, vegetables, and edible herbs
. Funding for the farmer's markets is provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is the agency that administers the programs statewide. DPH partners with local public health districts and Area Agencies on Aging to administer these programs locally to WIC recipients and senior participants, respectively. Program benefits are only redeemable from Georgia DPH-authorized farmers at authorized selling locations.
Page last updated: 12/19/24