Baton Rouge, La - U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom
Vilsack announced the start of the 16th annual Farmers' Market Week, which began
Sunday, August 2, and runs through August 8. Vilsack made the announcement as Agricultural
Marketing Service Administrator Anne L. Alonzo and local officials launched the
annual observance of National Farmers Market Week at the Santa Fe Farmers
Market. New Mexico Department of Agriculture Secretary Jeff M. Witte, Santa Fe
Mayor Javier M. Gonzales, and Santa Fe Farmers Market Director Paolo Speirn
joined the celebration.
"Farmers Markets benefit communities by offering healthy,
wholesome food while local farmers and ranchers benefit from new ways to
present their products to customers," said USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack in
Washington, DC. "People are changing how they think about farmers markets
as they become community gathering points, and we have seen a 64 percent increase in customer
traffic in markets open for at least two years."
AMS supports Farmers Markets through grants, research, and
technical assistance. Last year, AMS awarded $26.6 million in competitive
grants though the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program, including
more than $500,000 in grants awarded in New Mexico. AMS also manages the
National Farmers Market Directory, one of four USDA Local Food
Directories that provide customers with easy, one-stop access
to locations, hours, and other information about farmers markets, community
supported agriculture enterprises, food hubs, and on-farm markets.
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry again secured
a grant from the USDA to participate in the 2015 Senior Farmers Market
Nutrition Program (FMNP) allowing senior citizens to buy locally grown fresh
fruits, vegetables, cut herbs and honey at farmers markets and roadside stands.
This program helps to increase access and consumption of fresh fruits and
vegetables by seniors, as well as supports local farming producers. Seniors who
applied for the program this year have until November 30 to visit their local
farmers market or roadside stand to utilize their vouchers. While the
program is closed for this year, applications will be accepted again in March
of 2016. The LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain encourages senior citizens 60 years and
older who meet certain income requirements to contact their parish Council on
Aging next year to participate. In New Orleans, seniors can contact Catholic
Charities.
A list of Louisiana Farmers Markets is available at the Louisiana
Department of Agriculture and Forestry website.
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