COLUMBUS – The Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) announced today that eligible Ohioans aged 60 and up will once again have access to $50 in fresh locally grown fruits, vegetables, fresh-cut herbs, and unprocessed honey in 2025 through the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP).
Locally, the Mount Vernon Farmers Market and Knox Berry Farm participate in the program.
Applications for the SFMNP’s 2025 season are now available online at this link on the Homegrown Benefits website, ODA’s SFMNP partner.
“The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is a fantastic way for older Ohioans to get fresh produce from their communities while also helping Ohio farmers find new customers,” according to ODA Director Ursel J. McElroy.
“By providing additional methods for older Ohioans to get healthy food into their diets and make smart lifestyle choices, we are continuing our mission to make Ohio the best place to age in the nation.”
To be eligible for the program, Ohio residents must be 60 years or older and earn less than 185% of the federal poverty level. They must reapply each year to continue receiving benefits.
As in 2024, program participants can sign up for digital benefits this year, which can be redeemed through a smartphone app. Ohioans who sign up for the program with an email address will receive an email confirming their approval and will be able to use their $50 starting May 15.
Physical membership cards remain available. Ohioans who chose to receive physical cards last year and are still eligible this year will be able to reuse them in 2025, with $50 loaded onto the cards on May 15.
Physical cards will also be delivered to eligible Ohioans who misplaced their 2024 cards, did not receive a physical card in 2024, or registered for the first time in 2025. Delivery could take 4-6 weeks.
Ohio residents in Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Morgan, Monroe, Noble, Perry, and Washington counties can still participate. However, they must register through Buckeye Hills Regional Council rather than the Homegrown website. For this program year, Ohioans in those counties will receive traditional SFMNP coupons rather than access to the app.
Applications for 2025 will close on September 30, and all funds must be spent by November 30. If Ohioans are reapproved for the program this year, they are encouraged to keep their physical cards so they can use them again in 2026.
Last year, the ODA switched from statewide printed coupons to a new app-based model. The new model allows participants to use their benefits in any dollar increment, increasing flexibility and giving older Ohioans more power while lowering administrative costs.
The SFMNP, which aligns with ODA’s vision of making Ohio the best place to age in the nation, increases older Ohioans’ access to and consumption of fruits and vegetables while also providing opportunities for community and civic engagement.
The program has been shown to improve older Ohioans’ socialization while also encouraging healthier habits.
The program benefits Ohio’s food and agricultural industries. The initiative benefits Ohio farmers and farmers markets by increasing agricultural revenue in the state. The SFMNP also boosts local economies and strengthens Ohio’s food system.
Interested farmers or markets wanting more information about the program can contact the Ohio Farmers Market Network at Senior@ohiofarmersmarketnetwork.org.
