Seniors Farmers' Market Program Adds Tree Nuts to Eligible Foods List

The Farmers’ Market Expansion Act of 2025 might sound like a big, sweeping agriculture bill, but the first section cuts straight to a very specific, practical change for seniors. This legislation focuses on updating the Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), which helps low-income seniors buy fresh, local produce.

The Supermarket Sweep Update

What’s changing? The bill expands the list of foods seniors can purchase using their SFMNP benefits. Previously, the list included things like fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Under the new rules in Section 2, the program is specifically adding tree nuts to the list of eligible items. Think walnuts, almonds, pecans—the good stuff. This is a small but significant change because it directly increases the nutritional variety available to seniors who rely on this program, adding a source of healthy fats and protein that wasn't officially covered before. This means if you’re a senior participating in the program, you can now use your benefits to buy a bag of locally grown walnuts at the market, not just a bunch of carrots.

Why This Matters for the Grocery Bill

This adjustment is purely an expansion of access, which is why it’s a pretty low-drama change. For the seniors using the program, it means more purchasing power and better dietary options, which is a win. For the local farmers and vendors, particularly those who grow or process nuts, it opens up a new stream of revenue from the program. The bill technically tweaks the language in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 by replacing a specific mention of "herbs" with the phrase "herbs, and tree nuts." While the inclusion of herbs remains, the key takeaway is that the program now explicitly recognizes and funds the purchase of nutrient-dense tree nuts, making the SFMNP benefits more versatile and supportive of a balanced diet.

Overall, this section of the Act is straightforward: it’s about making a good program a little better by adding more healthy options to the shopping list for seniors.