WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall today announced that Albuquerque and Santa Fe will receive a total of $118,000 in grants to improve local farmers markets, and expand farmers market access to more low income families. The grants are funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2010 Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP).
The city of Albuquerque will receive a $63,914 grant to establish a sales and marketing organization to maximize benefits from a permanent downtown Albuquerque indoor/outdoor growers market.
The Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute will receive a $54,086 grant to improve the Santa Fe Farmers Market through professional development workshops and consumer education. Of that grant, $4,000 will be used for promotion of the existing electronic benefits transfer (EBT) program. The EBT program makes it possible for recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) to use assistance funds to purchase locally-grown fresh fruits and vegetables.
"Farmers markets benefit communities by supporting local economies, and providing residents with the option to purchase locally-grown, healthy food," said Udall. "This funding will help ensure that farmers markets continue to grow stronger and provide all residents with access to quality, nutritious food. Every dollar spent at a farmer's market is multiplied by as much as two to three times in the local community. This means local dollars spent on local food growing local economies."
FMPP was created through an amendment of the Farmers-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 to improve domestic farmers markets and other direct producer-to-consumer purchasing opportunities.
