Ohio Ag Connection - Brown to USDA: Ensure Hungry Ohioans Access to Farmers Markets

Ohio Ag News Headlines

Brown to USDA: Ensure Hungry Ohioans Access to Farmers Markets
Ohio Ag Connection - 07/20/2018

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) Thursday joined a group of Senators in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure hungry Ohioans do not lose access to the healthy and local fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods they can purchase at farmers markets.

"Providing the ability for SNAP participants to purchase food at farmers markets is a win-win. Not only does this provide critical access to healthy, local fruits and vegetables and other nutritious foods, it also helps family farmers to develop important local markets and expand business opportunities," the Senators wrote in their letter.

As one of the primary vendors that services farmers markets through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) prepares to cease operations later this month, Brown wants to ensure families that use SNAP benefits to shop at farmers markets do not lose access to these vital markets. Furthermore, Brown wants to ensure farmers are not left without customers during the height of the farmers' market season.

The Senators who penned this letter to the USDA along with Brown include: Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Senator Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA), Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).

Other Ohio Headlines