Espaillat, Kaptur Lead House Members in Push for $100M for Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) released the following statement after calling on the Chairs of the House and Senate Budget and Agriculture Committees to allocate $100 million in additional funding for the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), and the Women, Infants, and Children Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP). In a letter, Rep. Espaillat and Rep. Kaptur urged Representative John Yarmuth (D-KY), Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Representative David Scott (D-GA), and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to include the funding as part of the reconciliation process or as part of President Biden’s American Families Plan (AFP). Last year the programs provided more than 725,000 seniors, and 1.2 million women, infants, and children with coupons worth up to $50 to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers’ markets.

“Far too many people in this country – from our seniors, women, and youth to our farmers – do not have access to fresh and affordable produce and are living well below the poverty line. In the richest country on Earth, this is completely unacceptable,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). “The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program and WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program play a critical role in eliminating food insecurity but are largely underfunded. This needs to change. I am proud to join my colleagues to continue our collective efforts to drastically increase funding for both of these invaluable programs to empower our local farmers and ensure that every single American has access to affordable and nutritious food for themselves and their families.”

“Over the last 20 years, the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs have been essential in our efforts to deliver the fresh produce our families and seniors need, while supporting our local farmers who strive day in and day out to serve our communities,” said Rep. Kaptur. “By properly investing in this low-cost, high-impact lifeline, we will ensure more of our neighbors have food on the table, and are empowered to live with the comfort and dignity they deserve.”

In Fiscal Year 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture allocated $20.6 million for SFMNP, and $18.6 million for FMNP. The letter calls for new funding of up to $60 million for SFMNP and $40 million for FMNP. If passed, the new funding would allow the programs to serve more seniors, families, and farmers throughout the nation.

The letter to the Budget and Agriculture Committee Chairs can be found here. More information on the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs can be found here.