Latest news with #Cavender
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Federal and state funding cuts could affect local farmers' markets
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.' Fort Blackmore United Methodist Camp opening new public pool in Scott Co. 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Giddyup! Cavender's kicks up expansion with second Albuquerque store
Mar. 10—What's better than a pair of cowboy boots? A pair of Cavender's stores. Cavender's, a Western-wear retailer based in Texas, is expanding its footprint, or boot print rather, in Albuquerque with a second location on the city's West Side. Patrons can find cowboy hats, cowboy boots, Western-style shirts, jeans, dresses, leather belts and other accessories at Cavender's stores throughout the country. Entrepreneurs and married couple James and Patricia "Pat" Cavender founded the store in Pittsburg, Texas, in 1965. The retailer first opened a store in Albuquerque at 1431-A Mercantile NE in 2014. The second location will be on the corner of Coors and Ellison, in a space formerly occupied by a CVS that closed in 2021. "We have been impressed by the growth of the Mercantile Ave store, year over year," said Cavender's spokesperson Jennifer Green in a statement to the Journal. "Albuquerque has been a great market for us, (and) we are excited to open another location for our customers." The 14,375-square-foot West Side store at 3821 Ellison NW will carry about 8,500 pairs of boots and offer personalized services, including boot fitting, hat shaping and boot stretching, Green said. Green told the Journal the location is expected to open in April, with a grand opening taking place later this spring. Cavender's venture started with a single store selling only three styles of Tony Lama boots. In 1977, the business got its big break when James bought 7,500 boots from another big boot store that went out of business. James opened a store in Tyler, Texas — now the Cavender's headquarters — to support the inventory. Today, Cavender's is in its 60th year of business and is selling brands such as Tony Lama, Lucchese, Laredo, Rocky Mountain and Wrangler in over 100 stores across more than 15 states. James and Pat, who died in 2018 and 2019, respectively, passed the business on to their sons, who still own and operate it. "Cavender's success is rooted in our 60-year commitment to providing our customers with the best products and services at affordable prices," Joe Cavender, president of Cavender's, told the Journal in a statement. "We're excited to grow and offer customers an authentic Western experience." Roughly 20 people are expected to be hired for full- and part-time positions, said Lynne Haire, a district manager with Cavender's. Green said the company isn't planning any further New Mexico expansions "at this time."
