No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes the purposes of the Act to increase and enhance funding for farmers’ market nutrition programs to support seniors, food-insecure families, and income-eligible mothers, infants, and children, expand market opportunities for local farmers, promote equitable access, and support a phased transition to a modernized program.
This section reauthorizes and expands the senior farmers' market nutrition program (formerly the seniors farmers' market nutrition program). It increases mandatory funding to $75 million annually for FY2027 through FY2031 (from $20.6 million for FY2008 through FY2023) and authorizes an additional $25 million annually for the same period. It requires the additional funds to raise the minimum individual benefit to $35, eliminate the maximum benefit limit, support electronic delivery transitions, and permit states to set eligibility criteria. It allows up to 50 percent of benefits to be redeemed through approved aggregators and permits electronic benefit transfer or mobile payments interoperable with other federal nutrition programs. It reserves at least 10 percent of funds for nonparticipating states, territories, and Indian Tribes and provides up to $25 million annually for technical assistance.
This section increases the minimum individual benefit amounts under the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program to $35 (from $10) and $60 (from $30). It provides $30 million in mandatory funding annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, permits states to use up to 10 percent of funds for technology modernization when caseload and benefits are maintained, and authorizes states to contribute additional nonfederal funds.
This section directs the Secretary of Agriculture to study opportunities to align benefit delivery and redemption across farmers' market programs and nutrition incentive programs under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for a more streamlined experience; the feasibility of integrated technology systems to reduce platforms managed by farmers and markets; actions to reduce administrative burdens, including duplicative applications and reporting, in the senior farmers’ market nutrition program and the farmers' market nutrition program; and the feasibility of an integrated program serving both seniors and WIC households. The Secretary must consult stakeholders and report results and recommendations to Congress within one year.
This section directs the Secretary to submit a report within one year after enactment to the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and on Aging and the House Committees on Agriculture and Education and Workforce. The report must describe the effects of the Act on local food procurement, local farmers, and emergency feeding organizations, including the individuals and entities procuring food locally and the communities involved.