The Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) is associated with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), administered in cooperation with the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of USDA. WIC provides supplemental foods, health care referrals and nutrition education at no cost to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding post-partum women, and to infants and children up to 5 years of age, who are found to be at nutritional risk.

The WIC FMNP, Project FRESH, was established by Congress in July 1992. It was created to accomplish two goals:

• To provide fresh, nutritious, unprepared foods (such as fruits and vegetables) from farmers' markets to women, infants and children who are nutritionally at risk.
• To expand the awareness and use of farmers' markets by consumers.

Who can participate?

Women and children (ages 1-5) who are currently enrolled in the WIC program can get coupons for fresh fruits and vegetables. Women who are either pregnant or breastfeeding are targeted to help meet their special nutritional needs.

More Information

See the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) Project FRESH web site for:

• how to receive and use Project FRESH coupons
• participating farmers
• the kind of fruits and vegetables that may be purchased with Project FRESH coupons