ADEL, Iowa — The Dallas County Public Health Department’s Health Navigation team is assisting Aging Resources of Central Iowa again this year in connecting income-eligible older adults with vouchers to purchase produce and meet their nutrition goals summer through the Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), a USDA-funded initiative that provides $50 in vouchers to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and honey from local producers at participating farmer’s markets or farm stands.
Eligibility for the SFMNP is based on age and income. Participants must be 60 years of age or older at the time of registration and have a household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty line ($29,526 for a single person or $40,034 for a couple). While this is a national program, in order to enroll through Aging Resources of Central Iowa, participants must live within their central Iowa service area.
To apply for the SFMNP in Dallas County, call the Dallas County Health Department and request to speak with a health navigator. Navigators will be calling past participants to complete the registration. New this year, eligible persons may sign-up online.
Once signed up, participants will select a drive-through distribution event in either Adel, Waukee or Perry to pick up their vouchers. Dallas County pick-up events will take place in mid-June. If unable to attend a pick-up event, participants can schedule a time to pick up their vouchers at the Dallas County Health Department. Vouchers will not be mailed.
Vouchers are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. They can be used from June 1 to Oct. 31, 2026.
In 2025 the Dallas County Health Department connected 142 older adults with the SFMNP.
“This partnership with Aging Resources helps us address food security issues amongst our neighbors in Dallas County,” said Abigail Coder, community health administrator at the Dallas County Public Health Department. “Older adults are often on fixed incomes and are hit hard as food prices increase. These funds help ease the financial burden of healthy foods.”
To assist with ongoing food-security concerns, registered participants are also provided Health Navigation services as desired. Navigators can connect Dallas County residents with SNAP food assistance or information on local pantries to meet additional food needs. Our Health Navigation team is also able to find resources to meet other basic needs, such as safe and affordable housing, access to healthcare resources and more.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices and employees and institutions participating in or administering the USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by the USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact the USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture / Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights / 1400 Independence Ave. S.W. / Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) Fax: 202-690-7442; or (3) Email: [email protected]. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.