Federal and state funding cuts could affect local farmers' markets

Yahoo

4 days ago

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – Ashley Cavender is the Equitable Nutrition and Food Access Director at Appalachian Resource Conservation and Development, or ARC&D.
Cavender said that recent funding freezes and cuts to state programs, as well as proposed funding cuts to federal programs, could affect local farmers' markets and the farmers who rely on them.
'I see on a daily basis how many consumers come to spend their SNAP and benefits at farmers markets, and I see the benefit that the farmers receive in that as well,' said Cavender. 'So, it's also going to affect consumer is being able to come to the market and also it's going to affect their access to whole foods.'
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Heather Shipley is the president of the Johnson City Farmers' Market. She says one of the SNAP programs being cut is the Double Up Food Bucks, which doubles the amount of produce you can buy up to $20.
'They're limited now to dollars that they do have at the farmer's market or at the grocery store, wherever they decide to get their food items,' said Shipley. 'If you're not spending that $10 with us, you're going to spend it somewhere else, you're going to look for more bang for your buck.'
Cavender said last year that shoppers spent $19,000 in double-up food bucks at Northeast Tennessee farmers' markets. She also said these cuts will affect farmers who provide the produce for farmers' markets.
'All of that money that is generated just through SNAP and EBT alone is a really large number. So, their income is going to be affected, and we're also seeing where federal funding is being cut for our farmers as well. So, any of those alternative options that they could seek out are also not an option.'
'When it comes to even our programming, we're at risk of having federal funding cuts as well.'
Shipley and Cavender said there are ways the public can help.
'You can actually, as an individual or a company, is sponsor the EBT program yourself, whether you make a onetime donation or you make maybe a seasonal donation,' said Shipley.
'Go to your local farmer,' said Cavender. 'The prices are honestly at this point, probably less. They've always been a little higher. But go to your local farmers markets, go to your local grocery stores and try to purchase this locally as possible, because they're going to need that now more than ever.'
Cavender also said that incentive programs, such as those at farmers' markets, are at risk.
One incentive program is the Farmacy Fit program, offered in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Health.
This grant awards tokens to those who walk a mile at the farmer's market to spend on certain products. Cavender said the Department of Health has delayed the funding cycle, meaning they will not know for sure if ARC&D will receive the grant until July.
Deborah Byrd, executive director of Jonesborough Locally Grown, said they have their own private walking program, called the Farm Fresh Fit Walking Program.
In a statement, Byrd says:
'We are able to continue our private walking program but don't have the funds to last all summer for the number of participants we've had, so we'll have to limit the number of participants until we have more funding.'
Deborah Byrd, executive director of Jonesborough Locally Grown.
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