Background:

The Senior and WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Farmers Market Nutrition Programs (FMNP) help over 65,000 Washington Families AND 500 small Washington Family Farmers. Participants in these programs shop for fresh fruits and vegetables direct from Washington farmers, at 55 farmers markets around the state.

WIC FMNP: Administered by the Washington State Department of Health
(DOH). Basic benefit is $20 per client per market season. In 2006, 39,600
individuals redeemed the checks. DOH estimates there are 97,000 eligible
clients in the state.

Senior FMNP: Administered by Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). Basic benefit is $40 per individual per market season. In 2006, 16,750 seniors were served. DSHS estimates there are 60,000 eligible seniors in the state.

Benefits:

● Increases sales of WA grown produce to low-income women and children and Senior Citizens;
● Gives local economies a significant boost;
● Promotes healthy eating habits;
● Helps small farmers stay in business and keep people employed;
● Connects farmers and city dwellers, producers and consumers, puts a face on farming;
● Keeps agriculture land in productive use;
● Helps strengthen the farmers markets where the vouchers are redeemed;
● Minimal state funds used to keep federal dollars in the community.

The following organizations are involved in Advocates for Families and Farms:

Washington State Grange

Children's Alliance

Lutheran Public Policy Office

WA Association of Local WIC Agencies

WA State Farmers Market Association

Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance

Olympia Farmers’ Market

Spokane Farmers' Market

Spokane Tilth, a Chapter of WA Tilth Association

Tacoma Farmers' Market

King-Pierce County Farm Bureau

Earth Ministry

WA Sustainable Food and Farming Network

Tilth Producers, a chapter of Washington Tilth Association

 Western Sustainable Agriculture Working Group

The HumanLinks Foundation

Bellingham Farmers Market

The Advocates for Families and Farms is requesting that the Washington State Legislature add additional funds to the State's budget in order to:

1. Expand Senior FMNP so that 4,000 more low income Seniors can buy farm-fresh vegetables.

2. Increase WIC FMNP benefit from $20 to $30 for the market season (benefit levels have not risen since 1988).

3. Strengthen Washington’s economy—For every $100,000 spent at a farmers market, $99,000 stays in the state and is respent locally at least 3 times! (Findings from Local Food Economy Study, Sustainable Seattle, 2006. The Role of Agriculture and Food Processing in the Washington Economy: An Input-Output Perspective, Joydeep Ghose and David Holland, 2004)

The Advocates have prepared two documents for delivery to Washington State Legislators. Both are one page long. One is a short version and the other is a long, detailed version of the budget request we are asking of the Washington State Legislature.

We are providing two versions of each document:

One is a version intended for printing high-quality paper copies to deliver to legislators and policy-makers. These are large files (over 1.5MB each).

The other is a slightly lower-quality version designed for easily using as an email attachment and viewing on computer screens. These are small files (under 200KB each).

Just click the desired link(s) below to view and/or save the document(s).

1) Short Version - High-quality Print Version

2) Short Version - email/screen Version

3) Long, Detailed Version - High-quality Print Version

4) Long, Detailed Version - email/screen Version
 

Here’s
what's being said about the Farmers
Market Nutrition Programs:

"We don’t have a lot of money and when we do, all that’s available to buy are high sugar, high fat snacks. This [WIC FMNP] was a very healthy experience for my kids, as well as myself. They got better food and had fun!
WIC client, Eatonville

"The WIC FMNP is critical for small family farmers. For me, it meant not having to let one of my employees go. During these hard economic times, programs like this help keep family farms in business."
Farmer, Enumclaw

”I am not accustomed to asking for, or accepting anything I
have not earned, but I must tell you that these [Senior
FMNP] checks have been a Godsend. I have been able to
enjoy a variety of fruits and vegetables that I never would
have without the checks.”
Senior participant, Omak

“I really enjoyed being able to go the farmer's market. I
have used them for two years now and I eat more fruits
and vegetables and love going to the market!”
WIC
Mom, Spokane