{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-announces-50m-expansion-senior-farmers-market-nutrition-program", "Kaptur Announces $50M Expansion of Senior Farmers\u2019 Market Nutrition Program", "2022-10-13", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Representative Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) \u2013 Member of the House Agriculture Committee \u2013 announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $50 million to expand the Senior Farmers\u2019 Market Nutrition Program.\n\nThe U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched a $50 million expansion of the Senior Farmers\u2019 Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) \u2013 a federally funded program that aims to lower food insecurity among seniors and support local agricultural producers. Each year, more than 800,000 seniors across the country receive coupons worth up to $50 through SFMNP that can be exchanged at nearly 20,000 farmers\u2019 markets and food stands nationwide for fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey. In Northwest Ohio, the Area Office on Aging administers the program in Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Sandusky, Williams, and Wood counties \u2013 distributing coupons to 19,795 seniors in the 10-county area annually.\n\nThe $50 million expansion of SFMNP represents a 250 percent increase for the program and is funded through the American Rescue Plan which Rep. Kaptur helped pass in 2021. The new funding will allow SFMNP administrators such as the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio to serve more seniors and expand to serve new areas. Rep. Kaptur was instrumental in SFMNP\u2019s creation in 2001, and has long championed the program, including in her role on the House Agriculture Committee. In August, Rep. Kaptur introduced H.R. 8707 \u2013 the Farmers\u2019 Market and Food Bank Local Revitalization Act \u2013 to increase federal funding for the program.\n\n\u201cThe Senior Farmers\u2019 Market Nutrition Program is near and dear to my heart,\u201d said Rep. Kaptur. \u201cThis low-cost, innovative partnership allows seniors to purchase fresh local produce while supporting our family farmers \u2013 it truly is a win-win. With this new funding, we\u2019ll be able to improve the lives of even more seniors and invest in our farmers who make and grow America. On the House Agriculture Committee, I\u2019ll continue working diligently to expand this remarkable program for seniors and farmers across Ohio.\u201d\n\n\u201cThrough the Senior Farmers\u2019 Market Nutrition Program, older adults are provided the means and impetus to consume healthy food in the form of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey,\u201d said Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio Vice President Rebecca Liebes. \u201cThis directly reduces the effects of chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, arthritis, and others. Older adults rely on this program to fortify their diets and prevent food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition. In addition, farmers are able to increase their business, grow additional produce, and recognize that they are making a difference in the lives of low-income older adults. While it is a successful program, not everyone who qualifies is able to participate. Expansion of this program will enable many more people, who may otherwise not have the chance, this opportunity.\u201d\n\nMore information on the $50 million expansion of the Senior Farmers\u2019 Market Nutrition Program can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-announces-50m-expansion-senior-farmers-market-nutrition-program"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3246568851172924, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}