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Author Archives: Honesta Romberger
The Alaska Food Festival & Conference – March 8-9, 2019
Honesta Romberger September 7, 2018The Alaska Food Policy Council and the Alaska Farmers Market Association are partnering for the 4th semi-annual Alaska Food Festival & Conference. The Alaska Farmers Market Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting vibrant and sustainable farmers markets throughout Alaska. We’re still in the early planning stages of the conference, but will continually…
DEADLINE for LAMP Sign-on Letter is Tomorrow, Sept 7th.
Honesta Romberger September 6, 2018As Congress returns from recess, the farm bill is a top priority. With the 2014 farm bill set to expire September 30th amid ongoing disagreements about SNAP work requirements, members of Congress are feeling the pressure to deliver a bill on time. Unfortunately for farmers markets, the fate of the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP)…
Act this week to tell Congress you love LAMP!
Honesta Romberger August 28, 2018As the House of Representatives returns from its August recess in a few days, the House-Senate Conference Committee on the farm bill is set to meet for the first time on September 5th. As this date quickly approaches, we have an especially important window of opportunity to elevate our voices in support of vulnerable programs…
Farm Bill Update: Tell Congress You Love LAMP!
Honesta Romberger August 17, 2018I hope you all had a great National Farmers Market Week! I know I did. You can read more about all the amazing NFMW activities in FMC’s post here. Now that the week is over, and the storm has calmed regarding the worst of the Novo Dia situation, we need you to turn your attention…
National Farmers Market Week is a time for celebration – and an opportunity to support farmers
Honesta Romberger August 8, 2018by Ben Feldman, FMC Policy Director | ben@farmersmarketcoalition.org This week is National Farmers Market Week — seven days dedicated to celebrating all the amazing things about farmers markets. And that list is long. Whether it’s improving farmer prosperity, jump-starting economic activity, creating jobs, or improving health, farmers markets do it all. While it may seem…
USDA Proclaims National Farmers Market Week
Honesta Romberger August 6, 2018It’s now officially National Farmers Market Week! The USDA released the proclamation today, signed by Secretary Sonny Perdue. We hope you all have a wonderful week celebrating farmers markets and the important role they play to support local food, farmers, and prosperity!
Novo Dia Shutdown Update: Company Will Operate Through February 2019
Honesta Romberger August 3, 2018Early last month, Novo Dia Group (the country’s largest provider of SNAP at farmers markets) announced it’s plans to go out of business, effectively terminating service to their customers. Last week, the State of New York and the Farmers Market Federation of New York announced an agreement with Novo Dia Group that would enable the company to continue…
Novo Dia Group Shutdown *Info Page* Now Live
Honesta Romberger July 20, 2018In response to the recent news regarding the shutdown of Novo Dia Group (NDG) – one of the largest providers of SNAP EBT payment processing equipment to farmers market and direct-marketing farmers in the county – FMC created an Info Page where impacted markets and farmers, as well as leaders and organizations keeping an eye on the issue…
New Information Regarding Novo Dia Group Shutdown
Honesta Romberger July 16, 2018EDIT: this blog post (the information below the dotted line) was posted July 16, 2018. Since then, FMC published a ‘Novo Dia Group Shutdown Info Page’ where impacted markets and farmers, as well as leaders and organizations keeping an eye on the issue can go to find the latest news, updates, statements, FAQs, fundraisers, advocacy efforts, and…
MarketLink Program To End Service By July 31st
Honesta Romberger July 9, 2018by Ben Feldman, FMC Policy Director | ben@farmersmarketcoalition.org An article published today by the Washington Post concerns Novo Dia Group (NDG), an equipment provider that processes SNAP, EBT, WIC and FMNP purchases at farmers markets and farm stands nationwide. The article announces that NDG will go out of business July 31st, effectively ending their MarketLink…
