Submitted by San Juan County.
The very popular produce program benefiting lower-income older adults is back this spring. The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, funded by Washington state, will provide lower-income seniors with an electronic benefits card that can be used to purchase $80 in fresh fruits, vegetables, honey and fresh-cut herbs at approved farmers markets and farm stores in Washington.
To be eligible to receive an SFMNP electronic benefits card, you must meet all the following:
• Be 60 years old or older (55-plus if Native American or Alaska Native).
• Be a resident of Washington state.
• Have an income at or below: $28,953 per year or $2,412 per month for one person, or $39,128 per year or $3,261 per month for two people. For larger households, add $848 per additional person.
2025 SFMNP affidavits/applications are available on the San Juan County website. If you are unable to complete an online application form, you may apply in person at your local senior center:
• Woodmen Hall on Lopez Island (4102 Fisherman Bay Road, Lopez Island, WA 98261).
• Orcas Senior Center on Orcas Island (62 Henry Road, Eastsound, WA 98245).
• Mullis Community Senior Center on San Juan Island (589 Nash St., Friday Harbor, WA 98250).
Whatcom Council on Aging in Bellingham is responsible for distributing the SFMNP benefits cards to eligible seniors in Whatcom and San Juan counties. Benefits cards will be mailed to eligible seniors and are redeemable between June 1 and Oct. 31. You will not be able to access your benefits or balance until June 1.
Please note, last year there were nearly 300 benefit cards awarded to seniors in Whatcom and San Juan counties that were not used at all. Please only apply for the program if you plan on taking full advantage of it!
If you would like to participate in the SFMNP but have difficulty getting to or from your local farmers market or participating farm stands, please contact the San Juan County senior services specialist on your island to discuss options. We have a limited supply of prepared farmers’ choice food bag options for eligible seniors. You can also contact Island Rides on your island to arrange transportation to or from the farmers market. Your local farmers market may also offer early access for seniors.
Contact your local Senior Services Specialist for more information:
• Lopez Island: Roni Becker-Wilkie, 360-468-2421, ronib@sanjuancountywa.gov.
• Orcas/Waldron islands: Steven Ziegler, 360-370-7525, stevenz@sanjuancountywa.gov.
• San Juan Island: Debbie Haagensen, 360-370-7526, debbieh@sanjuancountywa.gov.
• All islands/traveling: Chelsea Parrott, 360-370-0592, chelseap@sanjuancountywa.gov.
Media contact: Kristen Rezabek, health & nutrition coordinator, kristenr@sanjuancountywa.gov, 360-370-7518.
San Juan County’s Department of Health & Community Services is responsible for community and environmental health, mental health and substance abuse programs, senior services, affordable housing projects and more. The department has staff and offices on Lopez, Orcas and San Juan islands. For more information about San Juan County’s Department of Health & Community Services, visit www.sanjuancountywa.gov/1777/Health-Community-Services.
