Dane County is fortunate to have dozens of local farm stands and farmers markets. However, income, transportation, and mobility barriers can render them inaccessible, especially for low-income seniors. The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) supports low-income seniors in accessing fresh produce by providing seasonal vouchers they can redeem at participating markets and farm stands. While vouchers are widely distributed in Dane County, they are not redeemed at high rates.
A pilot program in 2024 explored the concept of connecting farmers with senior sites to bring markets to places seniors already go to make spending vouchers easier. The program modeled success at two senior centers. In 2025, Extension sought to expand the program and continue testing this pop-up farm stand model in senior housing.
Claire Mance, Dane County UW Extension’s Healthy Communities Coordinator, worked with the Healthy Aging Coordinator from the Dane County Area Agency on Aging to identify new sites for the 2025 series and Colonial View Apartments in Sun Prairie was an obvious choice. Situated next to the Colonial Club Senior Center, 75% of the residents at this low-income housing facility qualify for SFMNP.
“Having the first market at Colonial View Apartments in Sun Prairie was definitely a highlight! I felt the goal of the market was achieved there. Seniors were so appreciative to be able to use their vouchers and openly said that they were not able to go to the farmers’ market. I felt very good about bringing the market to them.” – Aline Moreau, Farmer, La Ferme dans la Vallee
Interestingly, the site’s service director reported that many folks don’t apply for the vouchers because they feel they will be unable to use them. Less than half of the residents drive and most have limited mobility such that walking to the Sun Prairie market (less than half a mile away) is not possible.
So, Claire connected the farmer and Colonial View staff to establish a relationship and coordinate market dates. Marketing materials were created by Extension and shared with Colonial View staff to promote the events among residents.In the 2025 season, Extension coordinated with Aline Moreau of La Ferme dans la Vallee farm in planning ten pop-up farm stands across three senior sites in Middleton, Waunakee, and Sun Prairie.
By early September, the farmer had received 21 FMNP vouchers, the majority of which came from folks at Colonial View. This is over a 100% increase from 2024. She reported enjoying being able to see some of the same seniors from the prior year and added that vending at Colonial View has been a real highlight!
Colonial View staff shared that having a market on-site was an incredible opportunity for residents. “It has been a HUGE hit! We had a line of folks at the beginning waiting for her.” Said Kristy Schuster, Colonial View Services Director.
Initially, just two markets were scheduled at Colonial View, but after such an overwhelming response to the first market, they added a third market date.
For more information on this project contact Claire Mance, Healthy Communities Coordinator at mance.claire@danecounty.gov
