News
Category Archives: SNAP
Massachusetts Campaigns for HIP Funds in the State’s 2019 Budget
Jen O'Brien January 18, 2018Markets and Farmers across the state of Massachusetts are urging the House Committee on Ways and Means to include $6.2 million in its fiscal year 2019 budget for the Healthy Incentives Program. The program provides a dollar-for-dollar match for SNAP dollars spent on fruits and vegetables purchased at participating farmers markets, farm stands, mobile markets and community supported agriculture programs…
Disaster Recovery for Market Communities
Alex Canepa August 28, 2017by. Dar Wolnik, FMC Senior Researcher, New Orleans LA Everyone is aware of the horror that has been unfolding in South Texas over the weekend and will continue and spread to SW Louisiana over the next few days. Here at Farmers Market Coalition, we are reaching out to our market partners in the area to…
Michigan Invests in Healthy Food Access Through Farmers Markets
Alex Canepa August 10, 2017The Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) and farmers markets across Michigan that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also known as the SNAP Bridge Card have big a reason to celebrate! When Governor Snyder signed the 2018 fiscal year budget on July 14, the State of Michigan pledged support to help sustain and grow…
FMC Members Among 32 FINI Grantees
Alex Canepa August 8, 2017Yesterday, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced 32 grants totaling $16.8 million to help Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants increase their purchases of fruits and vegetables. Since the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) program’s inception, farmers markets have realized some of the greatest gains in promoting food access through the program. Speaking at the award…
Community Farmers Market- At the Cornerstone of Atlanta’s Local Food Movement
Allie Vrtachnik December 13, 2016Picture taken at Grant Park Farmers Market, one of the five Community markets. Atlanta is my hometown, and growing up in the surrounding suburbs, I know the anticipatory feeling you get once you enter city limits. Atlanta has a bit of it all- the bustle (aka traffic), the big city feel, and a diverse population.…
USDA Press Release Announcing the 2015 FMPP and FMSSG Grantees
Jen O'Brien October 2, 2015Release No. 0273.15 Contact: Office of Communications (202) 720-4623 USDA Awards $34.3 Million to Support Communities’ Local Foods Infrastructure, Increase Access to Fruits and Vegetables Funding Supports Local Food Systems, Farmers Markets and Healthier Eating for SNAP Participants WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today helped to kick off the nation’s…
SNAP at Farmers Markets Growing, but Limited by Barriers
FMC June 10, 2015The number of farmers markets and farmers accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (SNAP, formerly called Food Stamps) has increased five-fold since 2009, but continues to remain stubbornly low. Nearly two in three farmers markets nation-wide still do not have the equipment and authorization required to accept SNAP. The same is true of farmers market vendors;…
SNAP Update: Redemptions at Farmers Markets Continue to Increase
FMC May 21, 2015Farmers markets have seen exponential growth over the past decade. Not only did the number of markets rise in 2014 – by over 100 to a total of 8,268 – but so did the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (SNAP, formerly food stamps) at farmers markets across the country. Note: All years refer to fiscal…
FMC Awarded Contract to Assist USDA in Administering $4 million to Support SNAP at Farmers Markets
Jen O'Brien October 24, 2014The Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) has been awarded a USDA contract to assist in improving and expanding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at farmers markets nationwide. Through the contract, FMC will collaborate with the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to administer $4 million in grants for SNAP programming needs and replacement wireless electronic…
SNAP Redemptions at Markets Continue to Increase, and New Federal Support is on the Way
Liz Comiskey February 26, 2014by Maclovia Quintana, FMC Research & Education Intern and Jen O’Brien FMC Executive Director Farmers markets have seen exponential growth over the past decade, and beyond the increase in number, 2013 brought expanded depth and breadth of services offered to market communities. One important indicator of this trend is increased use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance…
