Make some NOISE at the STATE HOUSE in support of Farmers Markets! 

Click here to find your state senator! We've written a sample email to send your state senator. It can be found at the bottom of this message.

This week our State House Senators will be discussing how to spend roughly $3.6 Billion in Federal ARPA [American Recovery Plan Act] funds.

Mass Farmers Markets, and markets in general, need you to call your State House Senator and ask them to sign on as co-sponsors, or otherwise vote to support, the following amendments:

Mass Farmers Markets knows of 2 Amendments that are up for discussion TOMORROW:

1. Amendment #19
Submitted by Senators Mike Barrett and Becca Rausch
TOTAL ASK: $150,000

$100,000 to be spent over 2 years to develop, pilot and model
a STATEWIDE Veterans Farmers Market Nutrition Program

Massachusetts has been at the forefront of the Farmers Market
Nutrition Program (FMNP)
The WIC program launched here in 1986 and the Senior
program was piloted here in the 1990s

After 20 years of war in the Middle East, our veterans, those
who are living just above the poverty line, need the support of
such a program.

$50,000 over 2 years to research the link between farm and
food production viability and farmers markets.

We know that Farmers Markets are an integral component of
our local food system. To date, we have no real numbers that
express the impact farmers markets have on our local food
economy. Without those numbers it is difficult to have the
important conversations with Non-Government Organizations
(NGO) funders and government officials.

Last year, when $54M was earmarked for food security
infrastructure grants, across the state roughly $2000 made its
way to farmers markets.

After a year of being designated "essential" that should never
have happened. It will continue to happen if we cannot
illustrate how important Farmers Markets are to our local farm
and food economy.

2. Amendment 603
Submitted by Senator Eric Lesser
TOTAL ASK: $75,000

After 24 years in existence, The Farmers Market at Forest Park
in Springfield, is under new management.

As market managers, we know how difficult it is to get to
sustainability.

When Jodi-Lyn Manning took over the management of
The Farmers Market at Forest Park in April (2021), it had been
in decline for years. The Board of Directors had dwindled to an
active few, vendor and consumer engagement was on the
decline AND yet, it was the primary site for Farmers Market
Nutrition Program (FMNP) redemption.

Jodi needs your support to help revitalize this important
community resource.

Please reach out to your State Senator and ask that they either
sign-on as a co-sponsor or show their support by voting in
support of this amendment.

Sample message to send:

Dear Senator [insert last name];

Tomorrow, you will be a part of a large conversation around how we recover and revitalize our communities after the COVID-19 pandemic. I [your name] am asking you to support local farms, local food, and our local food system by either signing on as a co-sponsor or voting in favor of Amendment #19 and Amendment #603 that are part of Senate Bill 2564.

Food access, food security, and revitalizing and strengthening our local food system should be an important component in how we think about spending Federal ARPA [American Recovery Plan Act] funds. 

After 20 years of war in the Middle East, our veterans, those who are living just above the poverty line, need the support of a statewide nutritional program that would put healthy food on the tables of our heroes who need it the most. Your support for Amendment #19 means food stability and security for more families across this great commonwealth. 

After earmarking $54M for food security infrastructure in 2020, approximately only $2,000 of those funds went to farmers markets. History has shown that farmers markets are integral to sustaining and growing local economies and serving the communities they exist in. With an agricultural industry that employs 25,920 people across the state, supporting these amendments means further economic strength. By voting for Amendment 603 you are helping revitalize a much needed market in a city historically underserved. In the past the Forest Park Farmers Market in Springfield was the primary site for FMNP (Farmers Market Nutrition Program) redemption and in these uncertain times, strengthening food access needs to be a priority.

While it is difficult to point to the economical impact for the FMNP, it has been estimated that every dollar spent on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits generates $1.67 in economic activity [according to calculations by Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics]. Supporting the access points for the redemption of these nutritional aid program benefits is a homerun for the vitality of families across MA and the farmers who make these markets possible.

Please consider signing on as a co-sponsor or vote in support.

Sign your name and provide your address indicating that you are a constituent.