June 28, 2017
As summer kicks into full swing across the Northeast, farm fresh products are coming into season, and farmers’ markets throughout the region are gearing up to provide fresh, local, affordable farm products to consumers. To support these important channels for Northeast farmers to reach consumers, Farm Credit East recently provided $1,000 grants to eight farmers’ markets and organizations to aid outreach efforts.
Of the eight grants Farm Credit East provided, five of the recipients will use the funds for innovative programs to reach food insecure veterans, while others will use the funds for promotion of farmers’ markets or to support Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
“These 2017 timely and innovative Farm Credit East grants will help expand access by families buying healthy, affordable and increasingly accessible local fresh produce at these farmers’ markets. Farmers will also benefit from the additional revenue,” said Gus Schumacher, Founding Board Chair of Wholesome Wave. “A number of participating farmers’ markets will also use these Farm Credit East funds to increase the purchasing power for at-risk Veterans, as well as help address some of the diet and health challenges Veterans face.”
“Farm Credit East is pleased to support local farmers and farmers’ markets, as well as the local communities these markets bring together,” said Bill Lipinski, Farm Credit East CEO. “Farmers’ markets provide many of our members with an additional outlet to market their products and offer consumers a great place to buy locally grown farm products.”
Farmers’ markets and organizations receiving funds include:
- Danbury Farmers’ Market (Connecticut)
- Farmers Market Federation of New York
- Farm Fresh Rhode Island
- Federation of Massachusetts Farmers’ Markets
- Maine Farmland Trust
- New Jersey Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association
- Seacoast Eat Local (New Hampshire)
- Sustainable CAPE (Massachusetts)
This is the time of year when local fruits, vegetables and other farm products are in abundance, so celebrate Northeast agriculture by visiting your local farmers’ market. If you’re unsure of where to find the nearest farmers’ market, roadside stand, winery or other retail farm operation, check out Farm Credit East’s Farm Fresh Guide for a listing of resources to find locations throughout Farm Credit East’s seven-state territory of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island.
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For more information:
Contact: Kristie Schmitt
Telephone: 800.562.2235
Email: [email protected]
