Psst, we have a secret...Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is back!

For the most up-to-date program information, please visit KDHE's Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program page.

Yes, it's true!

The Kansas Department of Health and the Environment (KDHE) is championing the return of the USDA's Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program for 2010.

As many of you know, the KSFMNP was not renewed by Kansas Department of Aging (KDoA) for the 2009 season, due mainly to budgetary issues. (Read KDoA Secretary Greenlee's statement on the difficult decision here.) Numerous discussions between KDoA, KDA, KDHE and the Kansas Rural Center's Executive Director Dan Nagengast transpired over the last year.

This fall, KDHE Secretary Bremby empowered Jennifer Church, Physical Activity and Nutrition Program Manager for KDHE, to seek Kansas' readmittance into the program. Jennifer devoted untold hours to reviving the previous partnerships, adding new ones and completing the USDA FNS application. We all owe KDHE, and especially Jennifer, many thanks for getting Kansas back into the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

Although KDHE has yet to receive final word on the application, planning for the 2010 program has begun. Jennifer is working with agencies in counties that participated in the program in 2008 and hopes to expand the program to several additional counties.

Counties tentitively participating in the 2010 KSFMNP:
    ⁃    Atchison
    ⁃    Bourbon
    ⁃    Cowley
    ⁃    Dickinson
    ⁃    Douglas
    ⁃    Finney
    ⁃    Harvey
    ⁃    Johnson
    ⁃    Leavenworth
    ⁃    Lyon
    ⁃    Mcpherson
    ⁃    Reno
    ⁃    Republic
    ⁃    Riley
    ⁃    Saline
    ⁃    Sedgwick
    ⁃    Shawnee
    ⁃    Wyandotte

Potentially the program could expand to include these counties:
    ⁃    Montgomery
    ⁃    Miami
    ⁃    Franklin
    ⁃    Jackson
    ⁃    Jefferson
    ⁃    Osage

If you participate in a market located in any of the counties above, we strongly encourage you to attend the Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program-Vendor Training and Certification session at the Kansas Farmers Market Conference on January 30 in Emporia.

Visit the Kansas Department of Health and the Environment's Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program page for complete information.JChurch [at] kdheks [dot] gov?subject=Kansas%20Senior%20Farmers%20Market%20Nutrition%20Program">

Kansas Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program - Vendor Training and Certification
Jennifer Church
The Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program has returned to Kansas! At the end of this session, vendors will have the option of being certified to receive senior farmers' market checks during the 2010, 2011, and 2012 market seasons; recertification will not be necessary until 2013. Guidelines for receiving and cashing checks and what products are eligible (honey is now an eligible product!) will be explained. 30 minutes

Jennifer Church is currently the Physical Activity and Nutrition Program Manager for the Kansas Department of Health & Environment. Ms. Church completed a Master’s Degree in Nutrition and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies at the University of Utah, and is a Registered Dietitian. Her major work with the State of Kansas has focused on improving community environments to promote optimal nutrition and increase physical activity. Ms. Church manages the Wednesday Capitol Midweek Farmers’ Market in Downtown Topeka and is now responsible for coordinating the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.

JChurch [at] kdheks [dot] gov (Click here to email Jennifer Church for information of the 2010 Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program)