Market Manager and Grower Trainings This Month!
For Market Managers
March 19 & 26 (9am-12:30pm): 2024 Farmers Market Boot Camp
WSFMA encourages new (and returning) board members to attend to learn more about farmers market operations, their role in sustaining a strong market organization, and building a great team.
Register for Boot Camp here
March 21,12:00-1:00 pm via Zoom: Food Access Forum
Training by WSFMA highlighting successful initiatives that increase healthy eating, provide opportunities to ask questions about SNAP, SNAP Market Match and the Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and find new ways to collaborate with farmers markets.
*The FMNP state staff will present a required training for all market managers at the Food Access Forum*
Zoom link for the meeting
For Growers
Thursday, March 28, 1pm-2:30pm: Intro to FMNP
We will review the purpose and functions of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program. This is an introduction to the program for any new growers or whoever feels like they need a refresher.
Click here to join the meeting at appointed time online via Microsoft Teams
Next grower training: April 25 (Enhancements to the Vendor Portal)
April 25th at 5:30pm: NIGHT TRAINING: For those who cannot make the daytime 1pm grower trainings, we are offering a training in the evening.
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March is National Nutrition Month!
As we prepare for the fast-approaching Senior Farmers Market (SFMNP) season (June 1 – October 31), let’s take a moment to pause and celebrate National Nutrition Month. Washington’s network of 13 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and Senior Nutrition Program providers support the health and well-being of older adults in many ways. Here are a few examples:
In addition to providing these vital services, Senior Nutrition Programs offer a way for older adults to connect through a personal check-in with a home-delivered meal, dining with new or familiar faces at a community meal site, or by connecting to other home & community-based services that promote healthy aging (such as the SFMNP).
We celebrate this year’s theme, Connection in Every Bite by recognizing the tremendous work of Senior Nutrition Programs across Washington. Thank you!
WIC Direct Vendor Portal Highlight
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To enhance understanding and comprehension of the Vendor Portal, we will spotlight a different segment of its features each month.
Exporting transaction history reports
When selecting "transaction history" in the drop-down menu in the portal, you can sort by date or multiple dates. Once you have the desired date range of the sales report you want, click "export" at the top right of the page. That will send a report via Excel spreadsheet to the email of the user who is logged in.
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Market Applications Due!
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This is a re-contracting year for all markets to participate in FMNP. If you're a returning market, your application is overdue. We will accept your application until May 1st.
We have just over half of the applications in among markets who participated last year. If you are a market manager, please send in your application if you have not done so.
Link to application: 2024-2026 Market Agreement Application (wa.gov)
If you are not sure about your status, please let our team know at FMNPTeam@doh.wa.gov and we can check.
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WSFMA Conference Recap
 It was a pleasure to see some of you at the WSFMA Conference in Leavenworth a few weeks ago. Thank you for coming to our table to talk about FMNP or just introduce yourself. We are looking forward to seeing you out in your markets this summer!
Here is link to the discussion topics from the conference and the material provided. Topics included new enhancements for the Vendor Portal (which will be covered in upcoming trainings), creating safe markets, digital marketing strategies, designing effective food access promotions for shoppers, growers, and local partners, and much more!
Please contact us with any questions you have ahead of this season. We will be sharing more of what we presented during the conference throughout the different trainings we have scheduled before the season starts.
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