USDA grant to benefit 11 Virginia farmers markets

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) announced that a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant will help 11 Virginia farmers markets increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables for food-insecure shoppers, while also benefitting small and mid-sized farmers. This announcement comes as many Virginians anticipate the availability of fresh-from-the-farm food at Virginia farmers’ markets. While some markets are open year-round, many open in April or May for seasonal business.

This USDA funding supports programs that help participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) increase their purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables. Recognizing that many people fall short of the servings of fruits and vegetables recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the grants will test incentives to help SNAP participants better afford fruits and vegetables. These grants were made through the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) program authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.

The FINI grant awards $3.77 million to national nonprofit Wholesome Wave Foundation Charitable Ventures, Inc. of Bridgeport, Connecticut. In Virginia, the following 11 markets or market groups are partnering with Wholesome Wave to collaboratively increase purchases of fruits and vegetables by SNAP consumers:

• Appalachian Sustainable Development, Abingdon
• Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture, Alexandria
• Arlington Courthouse Farmers’ Market
• Blacksburg Farmers’ Market
• Fairfax County Farmers’ Markets
• Four Mile Run Farmers’ Market, Alexandria
• Fresh Farm Markets, Northern Virginia
• LEAP for Local Food, Roanoke
• Old Town Farmers’ Market, Alexandria
• The Farmers’ Market.co, Spotsylvania
• Williamsburg Farmers’ Market

Virginia is developing a statewide farmers’ market network to support these initiatives, and to increase the number of farmers’ markets that accept SNAP benefits via the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. Currently about 80 of Virginia’s 240 farmers’ markets accept SNAP benefits, redeeming $108,827 in SNAP benefits in 2014. In Virginia, 935,642 people receive SNAP benefits, totaling $1.6 billion annually.

“Through Wholesome Wave’s partnership, these Virginia farmers’ markets will have more resources to operate SNAP EBT and offer nutrition incentives to attract food-insecure shoppers while working collaboratively to expand the effectiveness of the program statewide,” said Elizabeth Borst, Executive Director of The Farmers’ Market.co, one of the sub awardees.

VDACS maintains a list of Virginia farmers’ markets by region on VirginiaGrown.com. Virginians can find markets in rural and urban communities across the Commonwealth. Farmers’ markets are a great place to find fresh Virginia Grown tomatoes, corn, squash, peaches, melons, berries and so much more, all harvested at their peak of flavor, freshness and nutrition.

Click here to view a calendar of fresh fruit and vegetable availability in Virginia. In addition, many markets offer a variety of local specialty food products, artisans and craftspeople, ready-to-eat treats and family fun entertainment.