Farm Markets in Westmoreland County
 Why
Buy Local?
With the hustle and bustle going on everyday in today’s world,
many of us forget the where the products we buy come from, and what
connection they have to us. From buying our milk in plastic jugs at
the convenience store, to picking through fruit and vegetables at
the colossal chain supermarket, many of us don’t give a second
thought to where our food comes from or how it was grown. In our
society, we often feed ourselves and our children over-processed
foods, loaded with excessive sugars, preservatives, and chemicals.
One way to eliminate over-processed foods from our diet is
shopping at local farmers’ markets. When you purchase locally
produced goods, you are supporting your local economy, while helping
to keep family farms in your community strong, as well as preserving
green spaces. Most importantly, you know where your food is coming
from, who is producing it, and how it’s being produced. You can’t
find fresher food unless you grow it yourself!
Farmers Market Nutrition Program
Backed by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the
Westmoreland County Commissioners, the Farmers Market Nutrition
Program (FMNP) serves as a compliment to the Women, Infants and
Children (WIC) Program, as well as helping Senior Citizens in our
area.
The FMNP provides each eligible recipient with four (4) $5.00
FMNP vouchers to redeem at a qualified farmers’ markets or roadside
stand. The farmers or farmers’ markets then submit the coupons for
reimbursement.
 FMNP
vouchers are distributed through the Area Agency on Aging (for
seniors) and the WIC agency (for WIC recipients). FMNP recipients
are given a list of participating farmers and farmers’ markets when
they receive their vouchers. These vouchers are redeemed for fresh
fruits and vegetables grown in Pennsylvania.
The purpose of the FMNP program is to:
- Provide resources to women, infants, and children who are
nutritionally at risk in the form of fresh, nutritious,
unprepared, locally grown fruits and vegetables, from farmers
markets; (and)
- Provide fresh fruits and vegetables to income eligible
seniors who are nutritionally at risk; (and)
- Expand the awareness and use of farmers’ markets; and
increase sales at those markets.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is responsible for
authorizing individual farmers, farmers’ markets, or both. Only
farmers and/or farmers’ markets authorized by the State agency may
accept and redeem FMNP coupons. Individuals, who exclusively sell
produce grown by someone else, such as wholesale distributors,
cannot be authorized to participate in the FMNP.
 Currently,
there are over 750 FMNP participating farmers at 469 farm stands and
156 farmers’ markets in Pennsylvania. If you are interested in
participating in FMNP as a farmer, contact Sandy Hopple at
1-800-468-2433.
If you are a senior interested in the program, please call
1-800-442-8000.
Links to Local Farm Markets
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