What does Preamble of Farmers to Families Act do?

This bill proposes to amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. The amendment concerns the use of cash-value benefits and coupons for purchasing fresh, nutritious, unprepared foods. These purchases would be made from community supported agricultural entities.

What does SHORT TITLE. of Farmers to Families Act do?

This bill is formally titled the Farmers to Families Act.

What does USE OF CASH-VALUE BENEFITS AND COUPONS FOR CERTAIN LOCAL FOODS. of Farmers to Families Act do?

This section amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to allow participants and recipients to use cash-value benefit funds and coupon funds to purchase local foods. The Secretary must allow the use of these funds for fresh, local, nutritious, unprepared foods, including pre-order boxes, from covered agricultural entities within 18 months of enactment. State agencies are required to provide cash-value benefit and coupon funds through the state's electronic benefits transfer (EBT) system. A State agency may provide different payment mechanisms on the EBT access device to separate cash-value benefit funds and coupon funds. Community supported agricultural entities must use qualified payment devices to accept payments from EBT access devices. The Secretary will establish and regularly update a list of qualified payment devices that can process EBT payments without requiring additional devices. The definition of 'covered agricultural entity' includes food hubs, farmers' markets, community supported agriculture programs, and farmers. The section defines key terms such as 'cash-value benefit,' 'covered agricultural entity,' 'coupon,' 'participant,' 'recipient,' and 'State agency'.

What does FARMERS' MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WIC PARTICIPANTS. of Farmers to Families Act do?

This section amends Section 17(m)(1) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to modify the types of locations eligible for the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program. The amendment strikes existing language regarding foods at farmers' markets and roadside stands and inserts new language. The amendment adds farmers' markets, roadside stands, and covered agricultural entities to the list of eligible locations. This section also amends Section 17(m)(5) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. It adds a provision stating that each farmer is automatically authorized as a covered agricultural entity for purposes of this subsection.

What does WIC ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. of Farmers to Families Act do?

This section requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a publicly available website with a single application portal for producers. The portal will allow producers to be authorized as a farmer under section 17(m) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. Producers can also use the portal to be authorized as a covered agricultural entity under section 18 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. The website must also include guidance for State WIC offices, farmers, and farmers' markets. The Secretary must provide best practices for State and local agencies administering farmers' market nutrition programs and related requirements.

What does TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER FOR FARMERS' MARKET OPERATORS AND of Farmers to Families Act do?

This section establishes a Technical Assistance Center for farmers' market operators and farmers. The Secretary of Agriculture must establish the Center within 18 months of the Act's enactment. The Secretary will seek a cooperative agreement with an eligible entity to administer the Center's activities. An eligible entity must submit an application to the Secretary, and a panel will review these applications. The panel reviewing applications must include members with experience as farmers' market managers and providing technical assistance to farmers. The Secretary will prioritize eligible entities with experience engaging with Federal nutrition programs and a history of serving small farms and underserved communities. Eligible entities include nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, cooperative extension services, and regional food system networks. The Center will provide assistance related to the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, including helping farmers understand eligibility requirements for programs like SNAP and FMNP. The Center will provide training on accepting electronic benefits transfer payments. The Center will create and distribute resources and best practices for accepting nutrition benefits. The Center will submit an annual report to the Secretary and relevant congressional committees summarizing its activities and making recommendations.

What does DEFINITIONS. of Farmers to Families Act do?

This section defines terms used throughout the Act. “Cash-value benefit” is defined by reference to section 246.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations. “Cooperative extension service” is defined by reference to section 1404 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977. “Covered agricultural entity” is defined by reference to section 18 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended by this Act. “Farmer” is defined by reference to section 249.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations. “FMNP” refers to the farmers' market nutrition program for WIC participants under section 17(m) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. “Institution of higher education” is defined by reference to section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965. “SFMNP” refers to the senior farmers' market nutrition program under section 4402 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. “WIC” refers to the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children under section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. “WIC terms” such as “State agency” and “local agency” are defined by reference to section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.

Back to bills

Farmers to Families Act

Last updated: 5/20/2026 · Introduced: 12/17/2025

Author: Lauren Underwood (D-IL)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill allows recipients of cash-value benefits and coupons under the Child Nutrition Act to purchase fresh, local foods from community supported agricultural entities.
The Farmers' Market Nutrition Program for WIC participants will now include farmers' markets, roadside stands, and covered agricultural entities as eligible locations.
The Secretary of Agriculture must establish a website with a single application portal for producers to become authorized farmers or covered agricultural entities.
A Technical Assistance Center will be created to provide support to farmers' market operators and farmers, including training on electronic benefits transfer payments.
The bill expands the definition of 'covered agricultural entity' to include food hubs, farmers' markets, community supported agriculture programs, and farmers.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

Verified Votes

No verified votes yet.

Community Votes

No community votes yet. Be the first!

Voting as guest · Sign in for verified votes

Other Sections

Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 5 more.

7 sections

Click "Show details" to explore individual sections. Use the community vote above or visit All Sections to vote per section.

Read official text

Want the full experience?

Create a free account to cast verified votes on each section, get a personalized summary, and track your voting history.

Create Free Account