With farmers market season underway across Illinois, low-income older adults may be able to get help buying fresh, local produce.
The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), administered jointly by the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), offers income-eligible older adults benefits in the form of paper vouchers or “checks,” which can be used at participating farmers markets and roadside stands to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, cut herbs, and harvested honey. For the 2026 season, participants will receive up to $40 in benefits per person, which is an increase of $15 compared to the 2025 season.
During the 2025 season, due to limited federal funding, agencies were only able to issue $25 in benefits per participant. But for the 2026 season, IDHS leveraged additional funding to increase benefits to seniors. Eligible older adults will now receive one free SFMNP booklet of checks, with each booklet containing four $10 SFMNP checks. These booklets will be available to more than 24,000 low-income older Illinoisans for the 2026 season, which began July 10.
Program participants must be at least 60 years old and have a household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. For a single-person household, that amount is $2,461 monthly. For a two-person senior household, the income threshold increases to $3,337.
Participants can use their checks between July 10 and October 31 at participating farmers markets and roadside stands in 37 Illinois counties. SFMNP vendors display a yellow sign with black lettering indicating “Farmers Market Nutrition Program Benefits Accepted Here.” Checks are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis by 11 of Illinois’ 13 regional Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) for the city of Chicago. Older adults are encouraged to reach out to their local AAA or the GCFD to enroll.
For more information visit https://ilaging.illinois.gov or contact the Senior HelpLine toll-free at 1-800-252-8966, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m..
— Illinois Department on Aging