Category Archives: COVID-19

July Policy Update and Call to Action

Stephanie Fenty July 21, 2020

Coronavirus Relief In May the House of Representatives passed the HEROES Act. At that time, FMC began calling on our members to contact Senate offices and ask for support for farmers market operators as part of their relief package. While the Senate has been slow to move so far, it now appears that the Senate…

FMC Helps Farmers Markets Mitigate the Impacts of COVID-19

Diana Broadaway July 10, 2020

For all of us, life right now involves a mix of uncertainty, fear, hope and determination. For nearly six months, the world has been grappling with the affects of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. While this has upended nearly every aspect of society, the impacts to our food system have been significant and far-reaching. As farmers…

Ask the Senate to Provide Relief to Farmers Market Operators

Stephanie Fenty May 17, 2020

Last Tuesday, the House of Representatives introduced the latest and largest of its COVID-19 relief package, expected to pass the chamber later this week. The $3 trillion bill includes support for food and agriculture programs, but could have done more to address systemic problems in our food system. Notably, the bill includes $50 million in…

Farmers Markets Across Nation Face Potential Economic Crisis From COVID-19

Ben Feldman May 11, 2020

A version of this piece was published in Civil Eats in May 2020. Across the country, farmers markets operators–the organizations and individuals who plan, coordinate, and run America’s farmers markets, are engaging in herculean efforts to protect their communities from COVID-19. But even as interest in local foods spikes nationwide, many  market operators face the…

Farmers Markets Respond to COVID-19 — Best Practices, Examples, and Resources

Darlene Wolnik March 18, 2020

As concerns about the spread of COVID-19 grow, farmers market operators are wondering how best to respond. Markets are grappling with their role as public gatherings that are vital to food access for consumers and the livelihoods of farmers. In response, market operators are developing communications, preparing contingency plans, and in some regions, beginning to…