2013 Farm Bill Update: FMPP

By: Jen O'Brien       Posted On: May 16, 2013

The Senate and House Agriculture Committees have both approved their respective versions of the 2013 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill is a massive piece of legislation that covers an extremely broad range of issues, but here’s an update on just one piece that we’re happy to share: both the Senate and House versions of the bill have expanded the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) into the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP), with increased funding. The Senate has budgeted FMLPP a mandatory $20 million, with the House including $30 million (with $20 million mandatory, and $10 million discretionary), with a 3 percent cap on administration fees (down from 5 percent in the House 2012 and 10 percent in the Senate bill).

The Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) was established in the 2002 Farm Bill through an amendment of the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976, to “…lower cost and increase the quality of food to such customers while providing increased financial returns to farmers.” Since then, the program has funded 575 projects in 50 states. The funds have been used to help markets hire staff, offer EBT access, increase their customer base, and educate their communities on the importance of eating fresh, local food. More information on FMPP can be found in FMC’s FMPP program brief.  Also, take a look at the great FMPP work that’s been done in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Virginia, and Missouri in FMC’s FMPP case studies.

More farm bill updates are in the works, and we’ll continue to follow the progress as the Senate Agriculture Committee takes their bill to the full Senate next week.