Bipartisan Legislation to Connect Farmers to Local Consumer Markets

Information for this news post was taken from this article.

Three representatives have introduced HR 3941, the Local Food And Regional Market Supply Act (Local FARMS Act). Representatives Pingree (D-ME), Fortenberry (R-NE), and Maloney (D-NY) have introduced legislation to assist farmers better access growing markets as well as help consumers access healthy local food. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has brought forth a companion bill in the Senate. The legislation would:

  • help farmers implement food safety practices and equipment upgrades;
  • create a new food-as-medicine pilot program to support fruit and vegetable prescriptions for low-income individuals;
  • expand the Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program to include veterans;
  • provide schools more resources to purchase food locally;
  • ensure USDA grants and loans can be used to support local livestock, dairy, and poultry processing infrastructure; and
  • help domestic organic farmers meet the growing demand for organic food by continuing the organic cost-share program.

More details of the bill are available here.

This bill helps to reconnect local farms to local markets, both rural and urban, and supports revitalization of local economies.

National organizations supporting the bill include the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, National Farmers Union, American Farmland Trust, National Young Farmers Coalition, Food Corps, Wholesome Wave, Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy at Columbia University, Self-Help Credit Union and Affiliates.