For the first time, both U.S. House and Senate recognize National Farmers Market Week

      Posted On: August 5, 2024

By Ben Feldman, FMC Policy Director

FMC is pleased to announce that for the first time, the U.S. House of Representatives will recognize National Farmers Market Week (August 4-10, 2024) through a bipartisan House resolution. In doing so, the House joins the Senate (after passing its first NFMW resolution last year) and U.S. Department of Agriculture in recognizing National Farmers Market Week. 

Such alignment among the administration and both chambers of congress is a rare breath of fresh air given the current state of American politics. While divisive partisan rhetoric may dominate the news, farmers markets remain one of the few sources of bipartisanship.

This year, the Senate resolution once again passed unanimously, with bipartisan support from 23 cosponsors. The House resolution was also introduced with bipartisan support, including 8 cosponsors and more expected to join. USDA also issued its 25th annual proclamation in celebration of the event. [Read press release from Senator Padilla’s office]

FMC remains committed to advocating for farmers markets at the national level and is honored to have played a role in coordination of both the House and Senate resolutions.

Farm Bill Update

While the overall tenor of Farm Bill negotiations is decidedly pessimistic, the specifics for farmers markets remains positive and similarly bi-partisan. Most notably, FMC’s top priority of simplifying the Farmers Market Promotion Program application process is included in both the House and Senate versions of the bill. This is a huge win and all but ensures that it will appear in the final Farm Bill when it is completed.

Other top FMC priorities that are included in the proposal from at least one of the chambers:

  • Increased funding for the Local Agriculture Marketing Program, Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
  • Eliminated match for Farmers Market Promotion Program, the Local Food Promotion Program, and the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program
  • Streamlining of farmers application to accept federal nutrition benefits 


How Can You Help?

With Members of Congress in recess and back in their districts during National Farmers Market Week, now is a great time to reach out to invite them to market and express your perspective on the farm bill. Our key asks to Members of Congress:

  • Ensure the simplifying the Farmers Market Promotion Program application process is included in the final farm bill
  • Remove the match requirements for the Farmers Market Promotion Program, the Local Food Promotion Program, and the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program
  • Streamlining of farmers application to accept federal nutrition benefits
  • Adequately fund the LAMP grant program at $75 million per year with additional appropriations authorization at $30million per year. 
  • increase in SFMNP mandatory funding by $10 million annually

Find your representatives here then use the call script below to advocate for farmers markets.

Call Script

Dear Senator/Representative ________,

[Thank them for any past support or introduce them to your market and its impact on your community. If appropriate, invite them to the market.] 

As you may know, this week is National Farmers Market Week: an exciting celebration of the many ways that farmers markets support communities. With that in mind, I hope that we can count on your support for policy changes to help strengthen farmers markets in the Farm Bill. In coordination with the national Farmers Market Coalition, we call on Congress to pass a Farm Bill that includes:

  • Simplification of the Farmers Market Promotion Program application process 
  • Removal of the match requirements for the Farmers Market Promotion Program, the Local Food Promotion Program, and the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program
  • Streamlining of farmers application to accept federal nutrition benefits
  • Adequate funding for the LAMP grant program at $75 million per year with additional appropriations authorization at $30million per year. 
  • Increase in Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program mandatory funding by $10 million annually

Thank you for your consideration,

[Your name]