All the most current resources you need to successfully operate the Farmers Market Nutrition Program are available here. TDA keeps this page updated with any new policy updates and news, including the following:
- Handbook release notices with update summaries
- Form release notices
- Brand new policy updates that haven’t yet been updated within the handbooks
- FAQs and other resources, as required
Please bookmark this page and check back periodically. Please also replace any previous versions of saved handbook sections once an update is released, as announced below.
August 29, 2025 - Increase to the Formal Procurement Threshold
On September 1, 2025, in accordance with Texas Senate Bill 1173, which raises the formal procurement threshold for school districts from $50,000 to $100,000, TDA is also raising the formal procurement threshold to $100,000 for all nutrition and household programs. As such, beginning September 1, any single transaction over $10,000 but below $100,000 will require the small purchase method, and transactions of $100,000 and over will require formal procurement. TDA is in the process of updating these thresholds in all program handbooks.
August 5, 2025 - RELEASE: H1442 Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Allowed Foods
TDA has updated Form H1442 Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Allowed Foods to note that edible parts of allowed fruits and vegetables (such as blossoms or stalks) are permitted to be sold separately.
July 17, 2025 - Guidance on the Interpretation of Discrimination Based on “Sex” in USDA Child Nutrition Programs
USDA has rescinded the May 2022 Bostock policy update that sought to require federally-funded food and nutrition service programs to redefine discrimination by reason of “sex” under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) and the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (FNA) as not based on just male or female, but also “gender identity.” While an official updated Nondiscrimination Statement has not been issued by USDA, Contracting Entities should update electronic resources and any newly printed materials to reflect the version of the NDS available on SquareMeals. TDA will continue to provide guidance on any further updates to the NDS. More information is available here: https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/guidance-discrimination-sex
May 15, 2025 - RELEASE: Updated Famers’ and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Handbooks
Both the FMNP and SFMNP Handbooks have been revised as follows and posted to SquareMeals:
- Section 2000, Eligibility and Application Requirements - Clarified that TDA staff may make site visits prior to a new or returning CE’s program participation and that associated training may be done in person or online in an interactive format.
- Section 4000, Managing the Program - Clarified that CE staff must visit any new site prior to approving it to participate in the program.
- Section 7000, Financial Management – Added equipment/supplies federal disposition procedures.
Handbook Revision Notices are also posted to SquareMeals that give details about the revisions made.
You can find the revised sections, Revision Notice, and complete searchable Handbooks at
Please replace all previous versions of the sections listed above.
May 15, 2025 - RELEASE: Updated S/FMNP FMA/Farmer Agreement Prototypes
TDA has updated the prototype Farmers’ Market Association/Farmer Agreements for both the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (Agreement FMNP-03) and the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (Agreement SFMNP-04). Per federal regulation, any non-procurement agreement involving a federal grant requires that the signees attest that they have not been debarred or suspended from participation in another federal program. Already executed agreements are still in effect and do not need to be re-signed. These agreement templates are located on the respective programs' SquareMeals Administration/Forms pages.
February 14, 2025 - RELEASE – Section 6000 of Farmers’ and Senior Farmers’ Market Handbooks
Section 6000, Civil Rights of both the FMNP and SFMNP Handbooks has been revised and posted to SquareMeals to clarify that sites must maintain written complaint procedures and to add Item 6410, Civil Rights Complaints, describing the process for filing a complaint.
Handbook Revision Notice 25-01 for both handbooks details the revisions made.
You can find the handbooks, including the revised individual section, Revision Notice, and a complete searchable Handbook at: