Hello Ohio farmers market managers and vendors. I have received a number of questions about the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program and the WIC Fruit & Vegetable Program. In an effort to assist you with understanding the 2 programs and who can accept the vouchers, Kadie Donahoe from the Ohio Department of Health has provided to following information.
If you have questions, please contact Kadie, Robin or me.
Christie
welch.183@osu.edu
Clarification regarding the two programs which are administered by the Ohio Department of Health.
The first program is the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) which was started in Ohio in 1994 and is available in 46 Ohio counties (see attached list). This is the program that provides 5-$3 coupons to participants to be used at authorized farmers. FMNP farmer contracts expired December 31, 2009 so previously-contracted farmers received applications in March. If you know of a farmer who would like an application for the FMNP, they can call me at 614-644-7570 or e-mail me at Kadie.donahoe@odh.ohio.gov and we will send him an application packet.
The second program is the original WIC program. In October, 2009, the WIC program added fruits and vegetables to the WIC food package statewide. Depending on the category of the participant (Pregnant woman, child, etc.) each participant receives a fruit and vegetable voucher (FVV) worth $6 or $10 on a monthly basis. A letter was sent to all FMNP farmers in December and ads were run in newspapers across the state announcing the availability of the program and that applications would be due February 1. If a farmer is interested in this program and missed the application period, he can contact Robin Ridenour at 614-644-8285 or at robin.ridenour@odh.ohio.gov and asked to be put on next year’s application list. They need to do this by December, 2010.
If they are looking at the FVV program, I would strongly encourage farmers to read the requirements closely ( http://www.odh.ohio.gov/rules/final/f3701-42.aspx). Because the voucher is part of the original WIC program, there are requirements such as recording a date of redemption, capturing a participant signature and sending the vouchers into the bank processing firm within 30 days after the last valid date listed on the coupon, just to name a few.
Please let me know if you have any questions. You can either contact Kadie Donahoe Kadie Donahoe Kadie.Donahoe@odh.ohio.gov> by e-mail or call Kadie at 614-644-7570. You can also contact Robin Ridenour at 614-644-8285 or e-mail her at robin.ridenour@odh.ohio.gov regarding the FVV program.
The Ohio Farmers' Market Handbook: