Every summer, cities and towns hand out coupons to seniors and WIC families. This page will tell you how to find out if you're eligible for:
- Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Coupons
- WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program Coupons
- Accepting WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Coupons at your Farmers Market or Farmstand
Find farmers markets and farmstands that accept Farmers Market Nutrition Program Coupons.
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Coupons - Eligibility
In 2023 and 2024, eligible seniors can apply for a $50 booklet of coupons to purchase locally grown, unprocessed, fruits, vegetables, fresh cut herbs and honey from participating vendors. Each booklet has 10 coupons worth $5.00 each. The coupons expire October 31, 2023.
To be eligible to receive Senior Farmers Market Coupons, you must be:
- 60 years of age or older, or
- Disabled and living in senior housing where congregate nutrition services are provide, and
- Your income must be lower than the Income Limits outlined below.
Income Guidelines for 2023
To be eligible to receive Senior Farmers Market Coupons, an applicant’s gross household income (i.e. before taxes are withheld) must be no more than:
|
(Effective from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024) |
|||
|
Household Size |
Annual |
Monthly |
|
|
1 |
$26,973 |
$2,248 |
|
|
2 |
$36,482 |
$3,041 |
|
|
3 |
$45,991 |
$3,833 |
|
|
4 |
$55,500 |
$4,625 |
|
|
5 |
$65,009 |
$5,418 |
|
|
6 |
$74,518 |
$6,210 |
|
|
7 |
$84,027 |
$7,003 |
|
|
8 |
$93,536 |
$7,795 |
|
|
Each add'l family member add |
+$9,509 |
+$793 |
|
If you meet the income and age limits, please contact the Senior agency that serves your city or town. This page has a directory of the Senior Agencies - click CTRL-F and type in your city or town to find the Senior Agency distributing coupons in your area.
Additional Resources
WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program
Farmers’ Market coupons offer current WIC participants over 4 months old $30 that can be used to buy fresh vegetables and fruits at approved farmers’ markets and farmstands in Massachusetts. These coupons are separate from your regular WIC benefits and cannot be used at the grocery store.
If you are interested in receiving Farmers’ Market coupons, please contact your WIC office for more information on distribution details. This is a first-come, first-served program and the availability of coupons is not guaranteed for everyone who is eligible or signs up.
You can check your eligibility for WIC. If you already receive WIC benefits, ask your nutritionist when and where they will be distributing Farmers Market coupons. Coupons will be distributed in late June, July and August.
Additional Resources
Can you accept Farmers Market Coupons at your market or farmstand?
Farmers in Massachusetts, or in bordering states, can apply to accept Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons at authorized farmers markets or farmstands in Massachusetts.
- New farmers must complete a mandatory training. The application period for 2023 is now open. Please complete this application to sign up to accept coupons.
- If you check off that you are a new farmer, you will receive an email with instructions on how to complete the training (it is conducted online or over the phone).
- Farmers' Market coupon redemptions are limited to the following:
- Items produced by a farmer on his/her farm.
- Cooperative or consignment sales, only if permitted by the market rules.
- Only locally grown produce sold by authorized farmers is eligible under the progam.
Farmers Markets must meet the following criteria:
- Only farmers’ markets approved and certified by MDAR are eligible to participate in the program.
- Farmers’ markets must have a set of operating guidelines which address vendor eligibility and produce source. At a minimum, the rules must meet the minimum criteria listed in MDAR’s policy on farmers’ markets found at
- Market managers agree to notify uncertified growers at their market of their eligibility to participate in the program and refer them to MDAR in order to become certified.
- Farmers’ markets should have, at a minimum, two (2) certified vendors in order to participate in the Program. Existing farmers’ markets that fall below two (2) vendors must make a good faith effort to recruit additional vendors in order to continue to be authorized as a certified farmers’ market.
- Market managers must sign an agreement in order to participate in the Program.
Farmstands must meet the following criteria:
- Farmstands must be in a permanent location, or an on-farm structure, specifically designated for the sale of owner-grown agricultural products.
- The farmstand must sell a variety of FMNP eligible fruits, vegetables, and edible cut herbs.
- The farmstand should be reasonably accessible to the public, and should be open during regularly scheduled hours/days of the week. Seasonal openings and closings should be posted in a visible area for the public to see.
- The farmstand must have an FMNP trained seller present during farmstand hours. Self-service farmstands are ineligible from participating in the Program.
- Farmer must agree to operate within the requirements of the FMNP agreement.
- An individual who exclusively sells produce grown by someone else, such as a wholesale distributor, cannot be authorized to participate in the FMNP.
- Farmstands must sign an agreement in order to participate in the Program.