Green Tips & Tricks

WASHINGTON, September 17, 2009 - As part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the awardees of the 2009 Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) at the opening of the FRESHFARM Market by the White House on Vermont Avenue with First Lady Michelle Obama. Deputy Secretary Merrigan, who chairs USDA's 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative, was also in attendance at the event. Reaching into communities across America, 86 grants totaling more than $4.5 million were awarded to encourage and support the viability of farmers markets and direct marketing projects nationwide. A national directory of farmers markets is available at www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets.

"Farmers markets have an important role in local and regional food systems by helping consumers have access to healthy, nutritious foods," said Vilsack. "These grants will help continue the recent expansion of farmers markets across the country to increase access to locally grown foods for consumers, and increase incomes for farmers."

Vilsack emphasized that low-income consumers will particularly benefit through the program's emphasis on increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables through the use of electronic benefit transfers (EBT). This year, USDA exceeded its mandate to fund at least 10 percent of the total FMPP grant funds for new EBT projects at farmers markets. Thirty of the 86 grants promote the use of new EBT projects, and funding directed towards new EBT amounts to a little more than 18 percent of the total being announced today. These projects will help increase access to locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables by low-income consumers using funds provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Through FMPP, USDA is committed to promoting local and regional food systems that help to boost local economics, eliminate child hunger, and increase access to fresh produce in low-income neighborhoods, thereby improving community health and nutrition.

Funds will be used to establish, expand and promote farmers markets and other direct producer-to-consumer marketing opportunities by eligible entities in 37 states. This announcement is just one component of USDA's 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative to help develop local and regional food systems and spur economic opportunity. By successfully restoring the link between consumers and local producers there can be new income opportunities for farmers and generate wealth that will stay in rural communities; a greater focus on sustainable agricultural practices; and families can better access healthy, fresh, locally grown food.

Under the funding announced today, the grantees are as follows:

Alabama

• Alabama State Association of Cooperatives - $70,266

Alaska

• Igiugig Village Council - $45,480

Arizona

• Arizona State University - $61,893 (EBT budget $25,307)

Arkansas

• Delta Land & Community - 76,420
• Southwest Arkansas RC&D Project Area Inc. - $12,781

California

• County of Kern - $48,400 (EBT budget $13,400)
• Marin Agricultural Institute - $24,966 (EBT budget $24,966)
• County of Fresno - $94,445
• Tides Center - $61,380
• Mandela MarketPlace - $50,000
• Shasta Growers Association - $7,969
• People's Grocery - $78,051
• Glenn County Resource Conservation District - $79,021
• County of Solano - $51,106

Colorado

• National Bison Association - $29,700

Connecticut

• Litchfield Hills Food Systems, Inc. - $14,590 (EBT budget $14,590)

Florida

• Florida West Coast RC&D Council - $54,959
• The Leesburg Partnership, Inc. $100,000
• North-South Institute - $100,000
• City of Sanford - $37,770 (EBT budget $14,590)

Georgia

• Main Street Statesboro/Downtown Statesboro Development Authority - $19,077
• Upper Ocmulgee River RC&D Council, Inc. - $97,961 (EBT budget $97,961)

Idaho

• Sustainable Community Connections of Idaho - $45,542 (EBT budget $45,542)
• City of Moscow - $34,784
• Somali Bantu Zigua Community - $49,162 (EBT budget $2,400)
• Salmon Valley Stewardship - $13,860

Illinois

• Chicago's Green City Market Program - $76,300

Indiana

• Refugee Resource and Research Institute of Indiana, Inc. - $22,000
• Allen County Agricultural Producers, Inc. - $11,348

Iowa

• Iowa Food Cooperative - $28,327

Kansas

• Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture - $41,723
• The Kansas Grown! Inc. Farmers' Market - $18,160

Kentucky

• City of Jeffersontown - $44,700

Louisiana

• Big River Economic & Agriculture Development Alliances - $52,566 (EBT budget $4,700)
• Morehouse Parish Police Jury - $17,312

Maine

• Aroostook Band of Micmacs - $31,739 (EBT budget $31,739)
• Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association - $68,450

Maryland

• Harford County - $8,920 (EBT budget $8,920)
• Chesapeake Region Agricultural Business Development Corporation - $66,270

Massachusetts

• The Food Project, Inc. - $78,708 (EBT budget $35,787)

Michigan

• Food Bank Council of Michigan - $45,100 (EBT budget $45,100)
• Michigan Food and Farming Systems - $92,440
• Alcona Local Foods Association - $77,943

Minnesota

• Onamia Community Education - $51,047 (EBT budget $25,416)
• Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association - $100,000
• Minnesota Food Association - $52,793

Mississippi

• Delta State University - $31,075
• Hancock County - $85,800

Missouri

• Valley Farms, LLC - $39,630 (EBT budget $39,630)
• The Columbia Farmers Market, Inc. - $57,251
• Urban Districts Alliance, Inc. - $20,361 (EBT budget $20,361)

Nebraska

• Northeast Nebraska RC&D, Inc. - $86,462
• Community CROPS - $98,598
• The Center for Rural Affairs - $84,123

New Mexico

• Santa Fe Business Alliance - $98,334
• New Mexico Famers' Marketing Association - $26,070 (EBT budget $26,070)

New York

• Greenmarket, Council on the Environment of New York City - $100,000 (EBT budget $26,511)
• United Community Centers, Inc. - $66,754
• Friends of the Rochester Public Market - $100,000
• Certified Naturally Grown - $12,732
• Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County - $98,570 (EBT budget $98,570)

North Carolina

• Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Projects - $69,289
• Warren County - $12,495
• Coastal Harvesters, Inc. - $29,960

Ohio

• SID Public Services Association - $61,229 (EBT budget $5,155)

Oregon

• Gorge Grown Food Network - $73,321
• Adelante Mujeres - $23,468
• Calapooia Food Alliance - $44,448

Pennsylvania

• Capital RC&D Area Council - $74,030 (EBT budget $47,400)
• The Food Trust - $54,318 (EBT budget $2,500)
• City of Easton - $26,725 (EBT budget $26,725)
• Main Street Farmers Market, Inc. - $11,413 (EBT budget $11,413)

South Carolina

• City of Greenville - $17,698

Tennessee

• Appalachian Native Plants, Inc. - $32,320 (EBT budget $8,740)

Texas

• Brownsville Farmers' Market - $45,881 (EBT budget $15,240)

Vermont

• Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont - $94,789 (EBT budget $46,348)

Virginia

• Appalachian Sustainable Development - $95,779 (EBT budget $3,600)
• Jefferson Area Board for Aging - $56,761

Washington

• Northwest Cooperative Development Center - $59,205
• Northwest Agriculture Business Center - $68,000

Wisconsin

• On Broadway, Inc. - $13,588
• Wisconsin Apple Growers Association - $13,900 (EBT budget $13,900)
• Growing Power, Inc. - $75,769
• Browse & Grass Farmer Association - $94,724
• Waukesha County U.W. Extension - $35,296
• City of Saint Croix Falls - $27,405 (EBT budget $27,405)

Eighty-six grants were awarded to 37 states for a total of $4,563,000, of which $833,116 of that amount is targeted to funding new EBT (electronic benefits transfer) projects.