Missouri Legislature Moves to Help Hungry Seniors
Posted On: May 11, 2017
Missouri moved one step closer to becoming the 44th state in America to offer its seniors access to the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) when the state’s House of Representatives passed a bill that would require the the state’s Department of Health and Senior Services to tap into federal funding for SFMNP. SFMNP is the only federal program dedicated to connecting local farmers with Americans over the age 60 who are experiencing food insecurity. Speaking to FMC, the bill’s sponsor, Representative Lynn Morris (R-Nixa) urged his colleagues in the Missouri state Senate to act quickly and send the bill to the governor’s desk.
SFMNP provides low-income seniors with coupons for use at their local farmers market, to purchase unprocessed fruits, vegetables, honey, and fresh-cut herbs. In 2015, SFMNP benefits were made available to 817,751 low-income seniors to use at 20,329 farmers at 3,774 farmers markets as well 3,774 roadside stands and 180 community supported agriculture (CSA) programs across America. Click here to learn more about the program.
