Category Archives: Policy

SNAP Matters for Farmers Markets

Diana Broadaway January 30, 2026

It has been a year of grappling with immense change in our country, including in the local food sector. In July 2025, the Trump Administration passed the OBBBA/H.R. 1, drastically reducing funding for several important social programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). As part of this budget reconciliation bill, $186 billion was removed…

Program Review for 2025

Darlene Wolnik December 16, 2025

As FMC moves into its 20th year, we are actively reflecting on our work over that time, even as we are planning for a more dynamic future where FMC is responding in real time to the needs of our sector while growing leadership and amplifying the innovation among our market leaders. In terms of program,…

FMC Announces Market Manager Fly-In to Capitol Hill

Honesta Romberger August 10, 2023

FMC is thrilled to announce the upcoming Market Manager Fly-In in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., scheduled tentatively for the 2nd week of September! What’s Happening? Thanks to generous additional funding from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and the Regenerative Agriculture Foundation, FMC has the opportunity to invite a select group of market managers to…

2023 FMC Updated Policy Priorities

Honesta Romberger May 11, 2023

As Farm Bill negotiations heat up, we would like to take the opportunity to share our revised Farm Bill priorities. This update includes priorities related to the acceptance and processing of SNAP and other federal nutrition benefits at farmers markets, specifically the need to: Provide farmers and markets with appropriate and no-cost equipment to process…

Winter Reading for Market Managers

Mykalee McGowan November 10, 2022

Summer is definitely over–despite the last few green tomatoes hanging around on my drooping backyard vines–and many markets are slowing down for the season, closing up shop entirely, or moving into smaller or warmer digs for winter. The darker months ahead are a great time for lots of things: drinking hot beverages, cross-country skiing, avoiding…

2022 Farmers Market SNAP-EBT Technology Survey

Hannah Fuller September 12, 2022

FMC invites markets across the US to fill out our Farmers Market SNAP and Incentives technology survey.  EBT Processing Technology. We know it sees the best of us and the worst of us. With your help in filling out this survey, together we’ll learn about your market’s relationship with EBT and incentives technology. This survey…

FMC Commends Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program

Ellie Wong August 18, 2022

On Friday, the Office of Marcy Kaptur (OH) released the updated Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program bill called the Farmers Market and Food Bank Local Revitalization Act of 2022. The proposed legislation is intended to increase and enhance funding for Senior and Women, Infants, and Children Farmers Market Nutrition Programs (SFMNP and WIC FMNP) to…

2022 FMC Updated Policy Priorities

Ellie Wong August 11, 2022

With National Farmers Market Week upon us, we wanted to share our updated policy priorities. We are actively advocating for farmers markets and revising our priorities from the beginning of the year based on input from market managers about challenges they have experienced, analysis from FMC staff, and feedback from our contacts at USDA and…

FMC Applauds Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act

Ben Feldman July 22, 2022

On Wednesday, July 20, 2022 the House Education and Labor Chairman, Bobby Scott (D-VA), released the Committee’s revitalized Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill called the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act. The proposed legislation addresses key child nutrition issues and provides funding and resources to programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children…

WIC FMNP Advocacy Update: Summer 2022

Mykalee McGowan May 23, 2022

Part of the job of Congress is to pass a budget and appropriate funds to carry out the work of the government. While the fiscal year begins October 1, the annual appropriations cycle is a lengthy one. As part of the process, members of Congress use what are known as “Dear Colleague Letters” to demonstrate…