Ohio Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)

• Mobile phone or tablet with functional camera
• Access to Wi-Fi or a data plan on device
• Bank account that can accept ACH transfers
• Email address

In 2024, the following counties will not be participating in the electronic benefits program:

• Athens
• Hocking
• Meigs
• Monroe
• Morgan
• Noble
• Perry
• Washington

For more information about SFMNP coupon program operations in Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry, Washington counties, please contact:

Buckeye Hills Regional Council
C/O Janie Collins
1400 Pike Street
Marietta, OH 45750

Website: https://buckeyehills.org/aging-health/farmers-market-coupons/
Phone: 800-331-2644
Email: info@buckeyehills.org

You are eligible to receive benefits from the Ohio Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program if:

• You are age 60 or older,
• You live in one of the 81 counties that participate in the program, and
• You have a household income that falls within certain guidelines.

Contact information for the AAAs can be found here. In addition, the Network provides contact information for the regional AAA (Area Agencies on Aging) to Authorized SFMNP Partners for display. 

We acknowledge that change is hard. And when change comes in the form of technology, it can feel even harder. 

Here's the good news... The process takes approximately 30 seconds to complete, no longer than a credit/debit card transaction. Take a look at this video to see the process!  

And even more important than a simple system? No more delays or lost coupons, and the money is deposited into the farmer's or farmers market's bank account within 24-48 business hours. 

Farmers are not expected to label each item individually as eligible or ineligible, though they are welcome to if they so choose. Farmers can: 

• separate eligible and ineligible items on the table, and then mark with one sign on each side; 
• display the sign provided by the ODA and OFMN front-and-center for seniors to read, making sure to train staff and volunteers on eligible and ineligible items; or 
• hang one large sign that lists eligible (or ineligible) products available. 

Below are a couple of examples: 

• You may sell meat products, but you also have honey. In this particular example it may not make sense to mark all of the meat products as ineligible, but rather to say that the honey is eligible.
• A farmer sells 80 different seasonal vegetables and jam from their seconds. The farmer may not choose to mark every single vegetable product as eligible, but rather marks the jam as ineligible.

Both examples highlight what is eligible and what is not eligible without having to label every single item. 

Here are a few resources you may wish to print as use: 

• Eligible Foods List
• Write-On Sign Template 
• Use Benefits Here Sign

The Network encourages farmers to be individually authorized so they are able to accept e-SFMNP throughout the State (with the exception of Region 8). However, the Network does support farmers markets remaining authorized in order to support lower technology farms, Plain Community farmers, and expanding seniors' access to fresh, locally grown produce. Here's an illustration of how the program works in both scenarios. 

Each business is unique in it's needs, but here are a few considerations: 

• The Homegrown Benefits app may be open and operating on multiple devices at one time.
• There is a Technology Reimbursement Grant that you may use to purchase new or additional equipment. 
• You may designate one point of sale for Ohio SFMNP transactions. 
• Transaction history is available immediately and viewable from the "Vendor" screen of the app. All of the day's transactions will reconcile with the batch deposit you receive.