WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)
Published on AidPage by
IDILOGIC on Jun 24, 2005
Purpose of this program:
(1) To provide fresh, nutritious unprepared produce (such as fruits and vegetables) to low-income, at-risk women, infants, and children from farmers' markets; and (2) to expand the awareness and use of farmers' markets and increase sales at such markets.
Possible uses and use restrictions...
Grants are made to State health, agriculture and other agencies (or Indian tribes, bands, or intertribal councils or groups recognized by the Department of the Interior, or the Indian Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services.) Participating State agencies must provide program income or State, local, or private funds for the program in an amount that is equal to at least 30 percent of the total cost of the program except Indian Tribal Organizations which may receive a negotiated match contribution that is less than 30 percent but not less than 10 percent. The matching requirement may be satisfied from State contributions that are made for similar programs. Federal FMNP benefits (coupons) may be issued only to participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) or to persons who are on a waiting list to receive WIC benefits.
Who is eligible to apply...
All State agencies that desire to receive a FMNP grant must submit, for each fiscal year, a State plan to the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA. States that received Federal assistance under the Farmers' Market Coupon Demonstration Project, which was administered by FNS from 1989-1992, were "grandfathered" into the FMNP by Public Law 102-314. Other States interested in participating in the FMNP must first submit a State plan to the appropriate FNS regional office for approval. Approved plans are then reviewed and evaluated by the National office (Supplemental Food Programs Division). New State agencies are then selected based on the evaluation and the availability of funds. Local FMNP sites are selected by participating State agencies based on concentration of eligible WIC participants and access to farmers' markets.
Credentials/Documentation
WIC participants (except infants under 4 months of age) and persons on WIC waiting lists certified for WIC eligibility who live in areas with a FMNP are eligible to receive benefits. A signed and executed Federal/State Agreement is necessary before funds can be allocated to a participating FMNP State agency. Costs will be determined in accordance with 7 CFR Part 3016, and FNS guidelines and instructions.
Note:This is a brief description of the credentials or documentation required prior to, or along with, an application for assistance.
About this section:
This section indicates who can apply to the Federal government for assistance and the criteria the potential applicant must satisfy.
For example, individuals may be eligible for research grants, and the criteria to be satisfied may be that they have a professional or scientific degree,
3 years of research experience, and be a citizen of the United States. Universities, medical schools, hospitals, or State and local governments may also be eligible.
Where State governments are eligible, the type of State agency will be indicated (State welfare agency or State agency on aging) and the criteria that they
must satisfy.
Certain federal programs (e.g., the Pell Grant program which provides grants to students) involve intermediate levels of application processing, i.e., applications
are transmitted through colleges or universities that are neither the direct applicant nor the ultimate beneficiary. For these programs,
the criteria that the intermediaries must satisfy are also indicated, along with intermediaries who are not eligible.
How to apply...
Application Procedure:
Farmers or farmers' markets (depending on whether State agencies have agreements with farmers or markets) located in communities with WIC Program sites may apply to be authorized to accept FMNP coupons under the program. The State agency reviews the applications for completeness and compliance with authorization requirements. The State agency contacts the farmer/farmers' market to inform them of qualification. Individual participants apply for FMNP benefits at approved local WIC agencies.
Note: Each program will indicate whether applications are to be submitted to the Federal headquarters, regional or local office, or to a State or local government office.
Award Procedure:
Funds are awarded by the Department on the basis of funding formulas to State agencies.
Note: Grant payments may be made by a letter of credit, advance by Treasury check, or reimbursement by Treasury check.
Awards may be made by the headquarters office directly to the applicant, an agency field office, a regional office,
or by an authorized county office. The assistance may pass through the initial applicant for further distribution by
intermediate level applicants to groups or individuals in the private sector.
Deadlines and process...
Deadlines
A State plan for the next fiscal year is required by November 15.
Note:
When available, this section indicates the deadlines for applications to the funding agency which will
be stated in terms of the date(s) or between what dates the application should be received.
When not available, applicants should contact the funding agency for deadline information.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
An eligibility determination will be made within 30 days of submission.
Preapplication Coordination
Application is made through submission of a "State Plan of Program Operation and Administration" as required by law. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Note:
This section indicates whether any prior coordination or approval is required with governmental or nongovernmental units
prior to the submission of a formal application to the federal funding agency.
Appeals
Farmer/farmers' market appeals: The State agency shall provide a hearing procedure whereby a farmer/farmers' market adversely affected by a State agency action may appeal the action. The right of appeal shall be granted when a farmer/farmers' market is denied or, during the course of the contract or agreement, when a farmer/farmers' market is disqualified or any other adverse action which affects participation is taken.
Note:
In some cases, there are no provisions for appeal. Where applicable, this section discusses appeal procedures or allowable rework time for resubmission
of applications to be processed by the funding agency. Appeal procedures vary with individual programs and are either listed in this section or
applicants are referred to appeal procedures documented in the relevant Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
Renewals
This Program is authorized through September 30, 2003.
Note:
In some instances, renewal procedures may be the same as for the application procedure, e.g., for projects of a non-continuing nature renewals will be treated as new, competing applications; for projects of an ongoing nature, renewals may be given annually.
Who can benefit...
WIC participants (i.e., pregnant, postpartum or breastfeeding women; infants over 4 months of age; and children up to 5 years of age) and (at the State's discretion) those who are on a waiting list to receive WIC benefits are eligible to receive FMNP coupons. State agencies may also designate subcategories of WIC participants, e.g., pregnant and breastfeeding women only, to be FMNP recipients.
Beneficiaries
About this section:
This section lists the ultimate beneficiaries of a program, the criteria they must satisfy and who specifically is not eligible. The applicant and beneficiary will generally be the same for programs that provide assistance directly from a Federal agency. However, financial assistance that passes through State or local governments will have different applicants and beneficiaries since the assistance is transmitted to private sector beneficiaries who are not obligated to request or apply for the assistance.
What types of assistance...
Formula Grants
Allocations of money to States or their subdivisions in accordance with distribution formulas prescribed by law or administrative regulation, for activities of a continuing nature not confined to a specific project.
How much financial aid...
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$6,667 to $3,676,398; $512,336.
Note:
This section lists the representative range (smallest to largest) of the amount of financial assistance available. These figures are based upon funds awarded in the past fiscal year and the current fiscal year to date. Also indicated is an approximate average amount of awards which were made in the past and current fiscal years.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $21,005,776; FY 03 est $10,759,266; and FY 04 est $0.
Note:
The dollar amounts listed in this section represent obligations for the past fiscal year (PY), estimates for the current fiscal year (CY), and estimates for the budget fiscal year (BY) as reported by the Federal agencies. Obligations for non-financial assistance programs indicate the administrative expenses involved in the operation of a program.
Account Identification
12-3510-0-1-605.
Note:
Note: This 11-digit budget account identification code represents the account which funds a particular program.
This code should be consistent with the code given for the program area as specified in Appendix III of the Budget of the United States Government.
Examples of funded projects...
Not applicable.
About this section
This section indicates the different types of projects which have been funded in the past. Only projects funded under Project Grants or Direct Payments for Specified Use should be listed here. The examples give potential applicants an idea of the types of projects that may be accepted for funding. The agency should list at least five examples of the most recently funded projects.
Program accomplishments...
FNS has approved the operation of the FMNP in 40 State agencies, which include the District of Columbia, Guam and 4 Indian Tribal Organizations serving as State agencies for fiscal year 2002, thereby increasing the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables from farmers' markets by many more WIC recipients. This is consistent with the nutrition goals of WIC and FMNP to motivate WIC participants to make healthy food choices.
Criteria for selecting proposals...
Not applicable.
Assistance considerations...
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants have been released for the duration of the fiscal year using Federal Reserve Bank letters of credit. State agencies may withdraw funds only as needed.
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula can be found at Section 17(m)(3) of the Child Nutrition Act. As a prerequisite to the receipt of Federal funds, a State agency must agree to contribute program income or State, local or private funds equal to at least 30 percent of its total program cost. Indian Tribal Organizations may receive a negotiated match contribution that is less than 30 percent but not less than 10 percent. State contributions for similar programs may satisfy the State matching requirement. Provided that sufficient funds are available, each current State agency will be funded at its most recent year's level. Remaining funds are divided between current States for expansion and new States, based on a 75 to 25 percent ratio, respectively.
Note:
A formula may be based on population, per capita income, and other statistical factors. Applicants are informed whether there are any matching requirements to be met when participating in the cost of a project. In general, the matching share represents that portion of the project costs not borne by the Federal government. Attachment F of OMB Circular No. A-102 (Office of Management and Budget) sets forth the criteria and procedures for the evaluation of matching share requirements which may be cash or in-kind contributions made by State and local governments or other agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals to satisfy matching requirements of Federal grants or loans.
Cash contributions represent the grantees' cash outlay, including the outlay of money contributed to the grantee by other public agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals. When authorized by Federal regulation, Federal funds received from other grants may be considered as the grantees' cash contribution.
In-kind contributions represent the value of noncash contributions provided by the grantee, other public agencies and institutions, private organizations or individuals. In-kind contributions may consist of charges for real property and equipment, and value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the grant program. When authorized by Federal legislation, property purchased with Federal funds may be considered as grantees' in-kind contribution.
Maintenance of effort (MOE) is a requirement contained in certain legislation, regulations, or administrative policies stating that a grantee must maintain a specified level of financial effort in a specific area in order to receive Federal grant funds, and that the Federal grant funds may be used only to supplement, not supplant, the level of grantee funds.
Post assistance requirements...
Reports
Annual reports submitted to FNS specifying the following data: Number and type of recipients (Federal and nonfederal); number of authorized farmers, farmers' markets, and farm or roadside stands; value of coupons issued and redeemed; and financial expenditure data.
Note:
This section indicates whether program reports, expenditure reports, cash reports or performance monitoring are required by the Federal funding agency, and specifies at what time intervals (monthly, annually, etc.) this must be accomplished.
Audits
State and local agencies shall obtain either a single audit or a program-specific audit in accordance with 7 CFR 3016.26 or 3019.26 and 3052, as applicable.
Note:
This section discusses audits required by the Federal agency.
The procedures and requirements for State and local governments and nonprofit entities are set forth in OMB Circular No. A-133.
These requirements pertain to awards made within the respective State's fiscal year - not the Federal fiscal year,
as some State and local governments may use the calendar year or other variation of time span designated as the fiscal year period,
rather than that commonly known as the Federal fiscal year (from October 1st through September 30th).
Records
State agencies must maintain full and complete records including recipient and financial data; coupon issuance and redemption data; equipment purchases and inventory; nutrition education and civil rights procedures.
Note:
This section indicates the record retention requirements and the type of records the Federal agency may require.
Not included are the normally imposed requirements of the General Accounting Office.
For programs falling under the purview of OMB Circular No. A-102, record retention is set forth in Attachment C.
For other programs, record retention is governed by the funding agency's requirements.
Regulations...
Authorization
WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Act of 1992, Public Law 102-314, 106 Stat. 281; Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended, Section 17(m), 42 U.S.C. 1786.
Note:
This section lists the legal authority upon which a program is based (acts, amendments to acts, Public Law numbers, titles, sections, Statute Codes, citations to the U.S. Code, Executive Orders, Presidential Reorganization Plans, and Memoranda from an agency head).
Regulations, Guidelines, And Literature
7 CFR Part 248.