Wholesome Wave Endorses Expansion of Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26th, 2022

PRESS CONTACT: Brent Ling
Director of External Affairs, Wholesome Wave
brent@wholesomewave.org 202-427-4994

July 26th, 2022 - Bridgeport, CT - Today, Wholesome Wave, alongside state and national partners, sent a letter to the USDA encouraging imperative updates to the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program:

“Wholesome Wave has deep ties to the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). SFMNP is a USDA Farm Bill initiative that provides access to locally grown fruits and vegetables, honey, and herbs to low-income seniors across the United States. In addition to expanding access and affordability to these resources, the program increases consumption and bolsters the market for domestic fruits and vegetables,” said Brent Ling, Director of External Affairs at Wholesome Wave.

“Beginning in 2001, this popular program helps more and more people each year, but there are also areas for improvement. The program’s distribution of funds is not equitably allocated based on need, and there are programmatic adjustments that will help this benefit reach seniors and farmers in more remote areas. The June 1st announcement of additional investment in the SFMNP as part of the food systems transformation address by Secretary Vilsack, along with the upcoming Farm Bill, make now the right time to update the program to be much more equitable. We look forward to supporting this program for many years to come and thank our co-authors for lending their expertise to this letter.”

To learn more about the SFMNP visit the USDA and National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition websites and read one story about the SFMNP's creation by the late Wholesome Wave co-founder Gus Schumacher in a tribute by the Farmers Market Coalition.