Policy and Handbook for SFMNP

Policy Updates and News

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All the most current resources you need to successfully operate the Senior 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.

October 25, 2024 - Updates to Federal Financial Regulations (2 CFR 200)
On October 1, 2024, a Final Rule was implemented that made significant updates to 2 CFR 200. While most changes appear to not affect the Nutrition and Household Programs administered by TDA, there are several changes that will impact our operators, including:

  • Equipment threshold increased from $5,000 to $10,000. This means that as of October 1, 2024, only equipment purchases of $10,000 or more require a Capital Expenditure request.
  • The single audit threshold has increased from $750,000 to $1,000,000. This means that any operator that expends more that $1,000,000 in Fiscal Year 2025 will need to conduct a single audit. Note that any operator that expended more that $750,000 in FY 2024 will also need a single audit.
  • For the few operators using the de minimis indirect cost rate, the percentage of modified total direct costs used to derive the rate has increased from 10% to 15%, and the threshold of federal reimbursement factored into the modified total direct cost amount has been increased from $25,000 to $50,000.
  • The aggregate amount of unused supplies (including computers under $10,000 each) that an operator can retain or sell at the time of closeout has been increased from $5,000 to $10,000. Note that if the amount is over $10,000, TDA will be entitled to a percentage of the fair market value of the supplies or the amount received in the sale of those supplies.



September 25, 2024 - RELEASE: Updated Participant Voucher Issuance Log
TDA has released an updated Participant Voucher Issuance Log for Farmers’ and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Contracting Entities. The form has been converted to Excel for clarity and ease of use. The Form instructions were also updated to reflect these changes. The updated form and instructions are located on both the SFMNP and FMNP Administration/Forms pages on SquareMeals.

September 25, 2024 - RELEASE: Updated S/FMNP Agreements

Agreements for the Farmers’ and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs must be signed every three years. TDA has posted new versions of the Agreements for both programs reflecting the dates of the new cycle beginning Program Year 2025. Changes to the Agreements include removal of references to the signature requirement on vouchers in both programs to align with regulations and guidance provided in the USDA-issued FMNP Policy Memo #2022-1 and SFMNP Policy Memo #2022-2. Additionally, TDA has created a new SFMNP Agreement Addendum (SFMNP-01A) to be signed by a Contracting Entity that fully operates and owns a Farmers’ Market Association. All FMNP and SFMNP Agreements can be found on those Programs’ respective Administration/Forms pages on SquareMeals.

March 1, 2024 - RELEASE: 2024-2025 SFMNP Income Eligibility Guidelines

The 2024-2025 SFMNP Income Eligibility Guidelines (IEGs) have been released and posted to SquareMeals here: https://squaremeals.org/FandN-Resources/Income-Eligibility-Guidelines.

Additionally, the following resources have been updated with the latest IEGs:

  • H1668 – SFMNP IEGs (with Spanish translation now included)


December 19, 2023 - RELEASE: Updated H1420 S/FMNP Famers' Market, Roadside Stand, and Certification/Issuance Site Information Form and Instructions
The S/FMNP Farmers' Market, Roadside Stand, and Certification/Issuance Site Information Form and and Instructions have been revised and posted to SquareMeals on the FMNP and SFMNP Administration/Forms pages. The form and instructions were updated to allow collection of site information for roadside stands and voucher certification/issuance sites.



November 8, 2023 - RELEASE: Updated S/FMNP Market, Farmer, and Roadside Stand Review Form
The S/FMNP Market, Farmer, and Roadside Stand Review Form (previously titled Farmers' Market Review Form) has been revised and posted to SquareMeals on the FMNP and SFMNP Administration/Forms pages. The form was revised for clarity and to ensure all relevant topics are being covered during reviews. Edits were also made to reflect that roadside stands are to be included in reviews as well.



September 18 - Updated SFMNP handbook sections published
The following SFMNP Handbook sections have been revised and posted to SquareMeals:

  • 2000, Eligibility and Application Requirements;
  • 4000, Managing the Program;
  • 6000, Civil Rights; and
  • 9000, Terms, Definitions, and Acronyms


We have also released Handbook Revision Notice 23-01, which gives details about the revisions made.

You can find the SFMNP Handbook; including the revised sections, Revision Notice, and a complete searchable SFMNP Handbook in the table below.



2023-2024 Income Eligibility Guidelines Published – February 19, 2023
Refer to the Income Eligibility Guidelines (IEG) page (https://squaremeals.org/FandN-Resources/Income-Eligibility-Guidelines)  for new SFMNP Income Eligibility Guidelines going into effect July 1, 2023 (note the 2022-2023 guidelines are still available beneath the new table). Additionally, Form H1668 containing the new guidelines has been published on the SFMNP Administration/Forms page: https://squaremeals.org/Programs/Senior-Farmers-Market-Nutrition-Program/Administration-Forms

USDA Policy  Minimize 
USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) issues policy memoranda to provide guidance on implementing SFMNP. Click here to see these memos on the USDA site.



SFMNP Handbook

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Publication Name Download About Program Name
Complete Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Handbook Download File SFMNP Handbook
Section 1000: Introduction Download File SFMNP Handbook
Section 2000: Eligibility and Application Requirements Download File SFMNP Handbook
Section 3000: Program Agreements Download File SFMNP Handbook
Section 4000: Managing the Program Download File SFMNP Handbook
Section 5000: Adminstrative Reviews and Audits Download File SFMNP Handbook
Section 6000: Civil Rights Download File SFMNP Handbook
Section 7000: Financial Management Download File SFMNP Handbook
Section 8000: Denials, Terminations, and Appeals Download File SFMNP Handbook
Section 9000: Terms, Definitions, and Acronyms Download File SFMNP Handbook
Section 10000: Email Notification and SFMNP Handbook Online Download File SFMNP Handbook
Section 11000: Resources Download File SFMNP Handbook
Revision Notice Download File SFMNP Handbook
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Assistance available in English and Spanish. Please call 877-TEX-MEAL (877-839-6325) for help. Additional translations services available as well.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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