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USDA Publishes Federal Register Notice for Public Input on Racial Justice and Equity
Deadline: Extended to August 14
USDA published a Federal Register Notice requesting public input on its efforts to advance racial justice and equity across the Department. USDA is committed to ensuring equity across the Department and removing barriers to access our programs and services. USDA will use information gathered to identify barriers and opportunities to address systemic inequities and increase participation in USDA programs, services, committees, and decision-making processes.
Request for Information: Investments and Opportunities for Meat and Poultry Processing Infrastructure
Deadline: August 30, 2021
USDA is seeking input from the public on how to invest an estimated $500 million of American Rescue Plan funds to improve infrastructure, increase capacity, and hasten diversification across the processing industry. These funds will create competitive opportunities for producers in local and regional food systems so that farmers and ranchers have access to better choices and fairer prices. The USDA has specific questions for the public related to how to achieve these goals through new and existing partnerships, loans, grants, and technical assistance projects. Consortia responses and submissions with citations are encouraged.
Revised Performance Measures for AMS Grant Programs
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced updated performance measures for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program, the Acer Access and Development Program, and the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives. The updates will apply to the fiscal year 2022 grant cycle and beyond. The new performance measures will:
- More accurately reflect grant recipients’ accomplishments.
- Reduce burden on grant applicants and recipients.
- Improve AMS’ ability to report on the impact of its grant programs.
- Standardize measures across programs where appropriate.
 The U.S. Department of Agriculture proclaimed the first National Farmers Market Week in 1999. Every year since then, we celebrate the importance of farmers markets during the first full week of August, recognizing the contributions they make to our society. August is also when local produce starts to come into full maturity. There are over 8,000 farmers markets in the U.S. that provide their local communities with fresh produce and that family-oriented feel that makes farmers markets a great place to gather and to have memorable experiences.
In celebration of the week, we are highlighting new infographics from the National Farmers Market Managers Survey, resources from the Local Food Systems Response to COVID-19, and Farmers Market Promotion Program grant recipients. We also published two blogs to mark the week:
The 2019 National Farmers Market Manager Survey was conducted by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). NASS conducted the survey in the spring of 2020 using 2019 as a reference year. The survey estimated that 8,140 farmers markets were in operation in the lower 48 states. The survey shares general information about market organizational characteristics, agricultural business support activities and market development activities.
The results showed farm-level benefits for vendors, including:
- 67% increased overall production.
- 33% increased the number of workers employed on the farm.
- Nearly 40% were able to sell imperfect products that would otherwise go unsold.
- 77% diversified the types of agricultural products they grew.
Through the Local Food Systems Response to COVID project, AMS partnered with three universities and 17 organizations to gather and disseminate data and innovations that helped food and farm businesses adapt to changing market dynamics. AMS partners developed several resources related to farmers markets, a few of which are highlighted below.
Using Budgets to Help Farmers Markets Adapt to COVID-19
Through a case study and a series of interviews, Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association, Boulder County Farmers Markets, and Bloomfield Development Corporation shed light on pre-pandemic budgeting and subsequent changes during the pandemic. The manager of each of these farmers markets shared their revenue streams and how they managed cash flow when revenues dropped in spring of 2020. These resources emphasize how financial planning can help markets adapt to changing conditions.
Alternative Farmers Markets Models Innovation Brief
 When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many farmers markets shut down. As guidance on social distancing and public health emerged, farmers markets altered their structure to comply with public health mandates while continuing to serve vendors and customers safely and effectively. Even as restrictions ease up, many markets are making these adaptations permanent.
- The Bloomfield Saturday Market, in the densely populated Bloomfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA, opted for a limited-entry model, with one entrance into the market and one exit out.
- The Rochester Farmers Market, Rochester, MN, adapted a drive-through model. An online ordering system provided customers with the convenience of driving through an enclosed facility for pick-up.
- Serving the Denver, CO area, the Boulder County Farmers Market offered a curbside pick-up option with standardized bags of produce. Farmers delivered their product in bulk, which was then portioned and bagged for customer pick-up.
- The Boise Farmers Market, a year-round Idaho market, also offered a drive-through option for customers. Its success was seen in vendor participation, which grew from 24 the first day to 62 by mid-summer of 2020.
Farmers Market Coalition Impact Assessments
As part of this project, partners wrote impact assessments in August 2020 and again in May 2021 that shared the impacts of COVID-19 on the sector, obstacles to responding, adaptations, and needs. The Farmers Market Coalition’s May 2021 Impact Assessment discusses adaptations; funding; policy changes; support from state associations and other organizations; and equity, access, diversity and inclusion as they relate to farmers markets.
Each month we’re highlighting the work of Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion grant recipients.
Athens Land Trust
 Athens Land Trust (ALT), based in Athens, Georgia, is a nonprofit conservation and community land trust that develops lasting community assets for affordable housing, food security and sovereignty, education, and economic development. With 26 years of neighborhood-based community development in Athens, ALT recognized the overlapping issues of poverty, food insecurity, and barriers to markets for low-wealth agricultural producers in the local food system. To help address these issues, ALT has managed several Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion (FMLFPP) grants to launch and grow the West Broad Farmers Market. The West Broad Farmers Market thrives on community engagement.
In celebration of National Farmers Market Week, read past FMLFPP stories:
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