What is the Ohio WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program?
The Ohio WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) provides nutritionally at-risk women and children with fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs from farmers’ markets and farmstands. This is accomplished through the issuance of five, $3 coupons that eligible WIC participants may take to contracted Ohio farmers to redeem for fresh, unprocessed fruits, vegetables and herbs. Participants receive supplementary nutrition education on the importance of these foods in their diets. When was the program started? The program was signed into law in July 1992. In Ohio, the FMNP began as a privately funded program in 1992. The program received federal funding beginning in 1994. Currently, Ohio provides 30% of the administrative funds to operate the program while 70% of the administrative cost is met with federal funds. 100% of the food costs are met by federal funds. Why was it started? The FMNP was initiated to provide WIC participants with the ability to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables in an
