{"id":10961,"date":"2014-07-30T09:16:54","date_gmt":"2014-07-30T13:16:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/?p=10961"},"modified":"2014-07-30T14:01:01","modified_gmt":"2014-07-30T18:01:01","slug":"usda-mda-fort-meade-kick-off-farmers-market-week-celebration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2014\/07\/30\/usda-mda-fort-meade-kick-off-farmers-market-week-celebration\/","title":{"rendered":"USDA, MDA, Fort Meade Kick off Farmers Market Week Celebration"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"IMG_2910\"<\/a>FT. MEADE, MD<\/strong> \u2013 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Nutrition Service Administrator Audrey Rowe joined Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) Secretary Buddy Hance and Lt. Col. Eric J. Smith today to kick off National and Maryland Farmers Market Week (August 3-9, 2014) with a visit to the new Fort George G. Meade Farmers Market. \u00a0Patricia Dombroski, Administrator of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service Mid-Atlantic Region also joined the celebration.<\/p>\n

Governor O\u2019Malley designated this special week to encourage consumers to support Maryland agriculture and visit a farmers market in their area. For the kick-off event, the Fort Meade Farmers Market offered food preparation demonstrations and children\u2019s activities along with an assortment of fresh produce, salad dressing, baked goods, plants, flowers, homemade ice cream, soaps, and more.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am proud to officially kick off the National and Maryland Farmers Market Week,\u201d said Agriculture Secretary Hance.\u00a0 \u201cThe growing consumer demand for buying locally-grown products strengthens our local economies and the health of our environment and our families, and also keeps land open and productive. Farmers markets also serve as integral links between urban, suburban and rural communities. By talking with farmers, consumers can learn about fresh produce including preparation and storage tips and develop a bond of trust in the integrity and accountability of our growers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maryland\u2019s farmers are now offering their freshest products at farmers\u2019 markets across the state.\u00a0 Every county in Maryland and Baltimore City boasts at least one farmers\u2019 market for a total of 145 certified markets where consumers can buy affordable farm-fresh, locally-grown, healthy produce, plants and baked goods.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmerica\u2019s farmers\u2019 markets are a great source of fresh fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods, and at USDA\u2019s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), we\u2019ve made it a priority to expand healthy food access through farmers\u2019 markets to those participating in our nutritional assistance programs,\u201d said Audrey\u00a0 Rowe, FNS Administrator. \u201cIt\u2019s a win-win situation for the farmers and the local Fort Meade community. Farmers can expand their customer base and generate more sales while providing healthy nourishment for the local community.\u201d<\/p>\n

The number of farmers\u2019 markets in the United States has grown dramatically in recent years, prompting local, regional and national advocates of local farming to designate a week each year to highlight their benefits.\u00a0 In 1991, there were only 20 markets; there were 88 in 2008; 128 last year; and there are 145 this year. In its 2009<\/p>\n

Policy Choices Survey, the University of Baltimore Schaefer Center for Public Policy found that 77 percent of Marylanders want to buy produce that is identified as having been grown by a Maryland farmer. \u00a0<\/p>\n

The Fort Meade Farmers Market, held each Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., was established as part of the Healthy Base Initiative, a component of President\u2019s Obama\u2019s Operation Live Well Program. HBI is an effort to improve nutritional choices, increase physical activity, reduce obesity and decrease tobacco use on Department of Defense installations nationwide.\u00a0 Fort Meade is one of 14 installations chosen to participate in HBI\u2019s pilot program.<\/p>\n

\u201cFort Meade is proud to host the U.S. and Maryland Departments of Agriculture and this year’s National and Maryland Farmer’s Market Week,\u201d said LTC Eric J. Smith, Commander, Headquarters Command Battalion. \u201cAs a participant of the Healthy Base initiative, we are committed to helping our service members, their families and our workforce to have greater access to healthy food items and to create opportunities for healthier lifestyle choices.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to their economic importance, farmers\u2019 markets are popular community meeting places where residents catch up with each other and purchase fresh, nutritious, locally-produced fruits, vegetables, baked goods, and other food products. In Maryland, all of the 145 \u00a0Certified Farmers\u2019 Markets (and about 350 Maryland farmers) are authorized to participate in women, infants, and children Farmers\u2019 Market Nutrition Program (WIC-FMNP) and Senior Farmers\u2019 Market Nutrition Program (SFMP) so that qualified women, children, and seniors have access to fresh fruits, vegetables, cut herbs and honey (seniors only).<\/p>\n

Fort Meade\u2019s farmers market offers the Double Value Coupon Program. This program allows SNAP, WIC and Senior Nutrition benefit recipients to receive \u201cbonus bucks\u201d to be used to purchase produce at any vendor at the market.<\/p>\n

More than $400,000 in checks will be available WIC \u2013 FMNP through the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene\u2019s local WIC offices and income-eligible seniors age 60 and older (SFMNP) through the Maryland Department of Aging\u2019s local senior centers. Eligible participants receive checks for $20 (WIC) up to $30 (seniors) valid through November to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, cut herbs and honey (for seniors only) at authorized farmers\u2019 markets from through November.\u00a0The program is made possible by a grant from USDA and is administered by MDA in partnership with the Maryland Departments of Aging and Health and Mental Hygiene. \u00a0<\/p>\n

In Maryland, approximately 350 farmers participate in the Farmers\u2019 Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) for Women, Infants, Children (WIC) and Seniors. This program helps expand access for low-income Marylanders to be able to purchase fresh local produce at their local farmers\u2019 market. About a quarter of the markets participate in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) \u2013 formerly known as food stamps. Some statistics about Maryland farmers\u2019 markets:<\/p>\n