Statement From Farmers Market Federation on Coronavirus

The Farmers Market Federation of New York posted the following update on how coronavirus or Covid-19 could affect farmers markets in the state.

Go to https://mailchi.mp/acc3c7be6238/market-matters-march-2020?fbclid=IwAR1USSP8XUeg9D91_N5tlCQqBu953-2Lg1aeFNbvoUSScTklxysfsC-dkoo to read the information.

Other coronavirus info:

The New York State Fair also has canceled all events at the fairgrounds in Geddes through the end of the month.

Here is the fair's statement:

"Today, Gov. Cuomo announced that all events in New York state of more than 500 people will be canceled as part of the effort to suppress the spread of COVID-19. Accordingly, we are canceling all public events on the New York State Fairgrounds through the end of March. 

"We are working with event promoters to secure alternate dates for their events when possible and are providing full refunds of deposits. Our first and most important priority is to safeguard the health of everyone who visits the Fairgrounds and we will continue to take all necessary actions in order to achieve that goal."

Also, the WNY EquiFest, a large equine event that attracts more than 6,000 people to the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg, NY, also has been canceled. Here is the statement from the event's Facebook page:

"In an effort to slow down the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a ban today on all public gatherings of more than 500 people. As a result of the governor’s declaration, WNY EquiFest has been canceled for 2020.

The health and safety of our employees, exhibitors, patrons and volunteers is our utmost priority and we truly apologize to all impacted by this announcement."

The event was set for March 21-22.

NYS Joins with Mobile App to Continue SNAP Use at Farmers Markets

From Gov. Andrew Cuomo:

New York state and the Farmers Market Federation of New York have reached an agreement with the mobile application vendor, Novo Dia Group, to enable Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients to continue to use their benefits at farmers' markets across the state through the rest of the farmers' market season. 

Earlier this month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue urging federal action on this issue.

 

"New York will not stand idly by as the federal government's ineptitude takes food out of the mouths of New Yorkers," Cuomo wrote to Perdue. 

"This is just another example of the Trump administration's continued assault on the nation's most needy," Cuomo said. "While the federal government doles out a contract to an untested company using outdated technology, we will continue to protect not only our most vulnerable residents, but our hard-working farmers."

 

Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded the new contract that provides SNAP EBT equipment and services for farmers' markets to a company that does not support mobile, cellular-based transactions, denying hundreds of thousands of needy families the opportunity to purchase fresh, nutritious, locally-grown fruits and vegetables.  

With no replacement technology in place, and no foresight by the federal government to anticipate this situation, both farmers and SNAP beneficiaries would have suffered. 

The Novo Dia Group, which worked with the USDA to develop the cellular mobile technology that enables farmers' markets to accept SNAP benefit cards for purchases, had indicated that they were no longer able to continue in business due to the lack of continued support from the USDA.

 

In addition, USDA failed to notify impacted states of this problem. Immediately after learning of this egregious oversight, New York state began to work with the Farmers Market Federation of NY and other impacted states to formulate a solution.

 

New York State's short-term agreement with Novo Dia will provide uninterrupted access for SNAP recipients to continue to make purchases at farmers' markets, while also benefiting our local farmers during their busiest season.

 

"Losing access to SNAP through the Novo Dia Group would have been devastating to farmers' markets. Low income consumers would lose access to fresh, healthy and locally grown foods, while our state's farmers would have lost significant income that is critical to supporting our family farmers," said Diane Eggert, executive director.of the Farmers Market Federation of NY.

A record number of farmers markets in NYS now accept SNAP benefits.

Farmers Market Conference Nov. 15-17

The Farmers' Market Federation of New York will have its annual Farmers Market Managers Training Conference, “Building Capacity of Markets,” Nov. 15 to 17 at the Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville, Cattaraugus County.

The conference will focus on helping farmers markets build their capacity to grow and succeed for the benefit of their farmers, consumers and host community. 

Keynote speaker, Kim LaMendola, Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development, will discuss the benefits that farmers markets bring to a community and help market managers understand the language needed to convey this critical message to government leaders.

An evening banquet features Tom Rivers, author of "Farm Hands: Hard work and hard lessons from the Western New York Fields." Rivers' talk is sure to enlighten and entertain.

Each session of the conference builds on the overall theme of building the capacity of farmers markets to grow and succeed,  improve attendees ability to manage their market, advance their market’s potential for long-term sustainability and promote a marketplace that achieves a mission of supporting local farmers. 

Participating market managers are also taught the importance of providing a venue for consumers to purchase locally grown nutritious foods, and serving as responsible community partners.

The conference will feature a series of break-out sessions for emerging markets, focusing on helping them to bring their markets up to the next level of success. Other breakouts will focus on experienced managers, talking about more advanced concepts such as best practices in SNAP programs at farmers markets. 

The conference also will feature daily tours to farms, a food hub and a local brew pub.

Another new feature of the 2016 Farmers Market Managers Conference is a scholarship program to encourage market managers across New York State to take advantage of the lessons and networking that happens at the conference. 

To access the conference scholarship application, go to http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com/overview.  But hurry, deadline for scholarship applications is Sep. 26.

The full conference program, agenda and hotel information can be found at http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com/overview.   

For more information, contact the Farmers Market Federation of NY at deggert@nyfarmersmarket.com or call (315) 400-1447.

It's National Farmers Market Week

Get out and visit your local farmers market!!!

Get Your Sweet Corn Now

Sweet corn at Delaney's on Onondaga Hill

More sweet corn is available now in Onondaga County.

About a week or so ago, Hafner's in North Syracuse started selling its butter and sugar corn and Delaney's on Onondaga Hill opened this week with their butter and sugar corn. Williams Farm Stand in Cicero also is selling its homegrown corn.

Budget Money Will Help Low-Income Seniors Buy Food at Farmers Markets

Customers peruse vegetables and fruits and a local farmers market

Money included in this year’s state budget will provide free farm-fresh fruits and vegetables from area farmers markets to 110,000 seniors from across the state.

 

The money will also help area farmers by allowing them to sell more products and will help the seniors eat healthy and boost their nutritional intake.

As part of her “Grown in New York” initiative, state Sen. Patricia Ritchie, R-Oswegatchie, chair of the Senate’s Agriculture Committee, sought the new funding to expand the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which gives $20 coupons to low-income seniors that can be redeemed at Farmers Markets across the state. 

“We are all living longer, and good nutrition is important to a healthy lifestyle. But studies show that only one in three seniors are regularly buying and eating fresh, quality produce, like that which is grown by local farmers and available right now at area Farmers Markets,” Ritchie said.

“That’s why I worked this year to expand the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program so that more seniors, living on fixed budgets, won’t have to choose between healthy eating and balancing their checkbooks.

Coupon booklets will be made available over the next few weeks through local county Offices for the Aging. The coupons can be redeemed for purchases at local farmers markets.

Ritchie has published a full schedule of local markets on her website— www.ritchie.nysenate.gov —and distributed more than 60,000 printed copies, as part of her continuing effort to connect consumers and local farmers, and support the Northern and Central New York agriculture economy.

The new funding in this year’s budget allows 110,000 low-income seniors to access the Senior Farmers Market Nutritional Program statewide.

Eligible seniors can earn up to $1,800 a month, or $2,426 for a couple.

Grants Available to Help Farmers' Markets Accept SNAP Payments

From the USDA:

Up to $3.3 million in competitive funding is available to support the ability of farmers' markets to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

These grants will help expand SNAP  participants' access to fresh fruits and vegetables and other nutritious foods found at farmers' markets, while supporting the nation's farmers and producers.

Applications to apply for the grants are due June 18. Grant funds will be awarded in September. For further information about the grant application, visit www.grants.gov.

"We have seen an unprecedented growth in the number of farmers' markets accepting SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards in the past six years," said Kevin Concannon, Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Under Secretary of Agriculture. 

"These awards support the markets that may need administrative help in implementing and managing EBT service and informing customers that they can use their SNAP benefits at farmers markets," he said.

He also said there are more than 6,200 farmers' markets and direct marketing farmers authorized to accept SNAP nationwide – an eightfold increase since the beginning of this administration. In fiscal year 2014, about $18.7 million in SNAP benefits were used at farmers' markets, an increase of 7.5 percent over 2013. 

The Farmers Market SNAP Support Grants will range from $15,000 to $250,000 and must be designed to increase SNAP client accessibility and participation at farmers' markets, and support the establishment, expansion, and promotion of SNAP EBT services at farmers markets.

Farmers' Markets Ready to Roll

I just posted an idea a couple of days ago about how it will soon be time to visit your local farmers' market.

Well, USDA agrees. Check out its video on the subject.

Again, to find a market near you, go to http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com/find-a-market/. Then search by city, county or one of many other categories.

Farmers' Market Time is Approaching

It's getting to be Farmers' Market time in New York state.

To find a market near you, go to http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com/find-a-market/. Then search by city, county or one of many other categories.

Enjoy and buy some great locally grown fruits, vegetables or meats or locally made goods.

Oswego County Holiday Farmers Market Dec. 6

From Oswego County Cooperative Extension:

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County is putting on its sixth annual Oswego County Holiday Farmers Market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 as part of the “Christmas in Mexico” festivities. 

Attendees will be able to find great holiday gifts, decorations and food from local farmers. There is no better way to support the local economy than buying local.

In addition to finding local goods, customers have the opportunity to speak directly with the agricultural producers present at the market. This popular event usually draws a large crowd of more than 500 people. 

The Oswego County Holiday Farmers Market will be held at the Mexico VFW at 5930 Scenic Ave. (State Route 3) just north of the village of Mexico. Free coffee and hot chocolate will be provided and Santa Claus will make an appearance. 

For more information, call Lynnette Wright at 963-7286 ext. 203 or visit the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County website at www.thatscooperativeextension.org.

Postage Stamps Honor Farmers Markets

From the USDA:

Four postage stamps honoring farmers markets were unveiled at a farmers market near the White House this week.

Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack said the stamps will help keep farmers markets on people's minds.

"A lot of folks have talked about the benefits of farmers markets and that’s certainly true. This postage stamp will give us the opportunity to focus on those benefits. It’s been mentioned that it obviously is access to great food and I’d encourage everybody to spend a few bucks while you’re here," Vilsack said.
Vilsack said the stamps are coming out at a great time as farmers markets are very popular these days. "We’ve seen a dramatic increase in farmers markets across the United States. A 76 percent increase and today we have over 8,268 markets throughout the United States," he said.

The artist who created the stamps said she was inspired by farmers markets she attends.

"They show some of what you can get there and the freshness and the spirit of the market. They’re a community gathering spot. They’re a wonderful place to get good, fresh food, and you get to meet your farmers," said Robin Moline, farmers market stamp illustrator.

To find a market in New York state, go to the Farmers Market Federation of New York website at  http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com/farmers-market-profiles/markets/markets.html

Money Available to Help Seniors Buy Fresh Fruits, Vegetables

A total of $1.5 million in farmers’ market checks are being distributed across New York state as part of the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. 

Made possible with funding from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, the program provides checkbooks worth $20 to low-income New Yorkers age 60 and older to purchase fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. 

In Upstate communities, checks will be available at county agencies on aging. In New York City, checks can be picked up at congregate meal sites designated by the NYC Department for the Aging, as well as through Commodity Supplemental Food Programs run through the State Department of Health. 

Checks are available for low-income New Yorkers 60 or over, earning $1,800 or less per month for a single or $2,426 per month for a couple. The program provides them with the means to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers selling at community farmers’ markets.

Nearly 100,000 booklets consisting of five $4 checks are being distributed, and can be used to purchase fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables from 950 farmers vending at 500 community farmers’ markets across the state. 

The program is administered by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, in cooperation with the state Office for the Aging, the New York City Department for the Aging and the state Department of Health. Checks can be used at participating farmers markets through November 30 of this year. 

Eligible recipients must be age 60 or older and meet the income eligibility requirement, or affirm that they are currently receiving or eligible to receive one of the following benefits:

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Public assistance or Section 8 housing subsidy. 
Recipients cannot have received FMNP checks from any other location.

American Farmland Trust Begins I Love My Farmers Market Celebration

Go to http://action.farmland.org/site/PageServer?pagename=farmers_market_managers_tools to find out all about it.

The Top 100 most celebrated markets will receive a special logo honoring their achievement, “No Farms, No Food”® gear, and recognition on the Celebration’s website.

Easy Ways to Find Farmers' Markets, Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries to Visit

Here's an easy way to find farmers' markets in New York, according to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Go to https://data.ny.gov/Economic-Development/Farmers-Markets-in-New-York-State/qq4h-8p86 for farmers' markets.