Governor Lamont Highlights Expansion of Food Assistance Programs To Increase Access to Locally Grown Food at Connecticut Farmers Markets

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08/12/2022

Governor Lamont Highlights Expansion of Food Assistance Programs To Increase Access to Locally Grown Food at Connecticut Farmers Markets

(MIDDLETOWN, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont in the present day visited the Middletown Farmers Market to have fun National Farmers Market Week and spotlight the latest enlargement of the state’s meals help applications to supply elevated entry to recent, regionally grown meals at farmers markets in Connecticut.

National Farmers Market Week, which runs this yr from August 7 to 13, is an annual celebration that highlights the very important position farmers markets play within the nation’s meals system. There are greater than 200 licensed farmers markets and farm stands in Connecticut, which might be situated by visiting www.ctgrown.gov/farmersmarkets. An interactive map of Connecticut’s farmers markets might be discovered at www.ctgrown.org.

Over the final two years, Governor Lamont and the state legislature authorized a number of modifications to the state’s meals help applications with the aim of guaranteeing that households of all revenue ranges have entry to nutritious, recent, regionally grown meals, whereas on the similar time supporting Connecticut’s farmers.

At the Middletown Farmers Market, roughly 90% of the shoppers are seniors who use these applications, which embrace the Farmers Market Nutrition Program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and CT Fresh Match.

“Every particular person ought to have entry to nutritious meals no matter whether or not they stay in a rural, suburban, or city neighborhood, and by increasing our meals help applications to extend the power to simply accept these advantages at farmers markets, we will get wholesome meals to everybody,” Governor Lamont stated. “Additionally, supporting farmers markets means supporting Connecticut’s agriculture business and the roles that this sector maintains. I strongly encourage everybody to go to considered one of our state’s many farmers markets and get some Connecticut Grown merchandise.”

During the latest legislative session, the Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which is run by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, acquired extra funding for eligible people to redeem checks at licensed farmers markets and farm stands. Eligible people embrace seniors over the age of 60, and ladies, infants, and youngsters who meet sure pointers. Eligible members can obtain as much as $32.00 in checks by this program, which can be utilized to buy recent Connecticut Grown fruits, greens, eggs, minimize herbs, and honey.

Many farmers markets in Connecticut additionally settle for SNAP advantages, with some providing to double these advantages. To additional this, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture this yr used $200,000 in funding that it acquired from the American Rescue Plan Act to broaden the CT Fresh Match program, which is run by End Hunger CT and permits farmers markets to double buyer purchases made with SNAP advantages.

“Connecticut’s farmers markets are a collective effort fostering direct to shopper gross sales, reinforcing the farm to plate connection, and offering an important entry level for brand spanking new and starting farmers,” Connecticut Department of Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt stated. “Farmers markets gas native economies and supply elevated entry to nutritious, recent Connecticut Grown meals for our most susceptible populations.”

“Nutrition is vitally essential, notably for older adults,” Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services Commissioner Amy Porter stated. “We are happy to advertise the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, which will increase entry to recent meals for older adults. These coupons can be found by many senior facilities, municipal brokers, and different service suppliers.”

Connecticut’s agriculture business generates $4 billion within the state’s financial system and fosters greater than 21,000 jobs.

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