Source: PRESS RELEASE, 10/13/11

U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (NC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that five North Carolina farmers markets and farm-to-consumer marketing projects will receive federal funding to increase consumer access to healthy food.

“I am so pleased that five North Carolina farmers markets and innovative agriculture projects were selected to receive USDA funding,” Hagan said. “The benefit of these awards is two-fold for our communities – local producers will have more opportunities to market their products and North Carolinians will have expanded access to affordable local food. Most importantly, families will be able to put more fresh and nutritious meals on the table for their families.”

The grants were awarded through the USDA’s Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), which focused this year on increasing fresh food access in food deserts – low-income areas identified as having limited access to fresh and affordable food.

A full list of North Carolina projects receiving funding is below:

•      Watauga County Farmers Market, Boone - $81,605
•      North Carolina State University, Raleigh - $95,052
•      Sandhills Farm to Table Cooperative, Whispering Pines - $75,900
•      Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, Asheville - $74,641
•      The NC Public Health Foundation, Raleigh - $66,462

Last year, Hagan and Sen. John Tester (MT) included a key amendment in the Food Safety Modernization Act to protect small farmers, such as those who sell their products at farmers markets, from new excessive government regulations. 

“Agriculture is the largest industry in North Carolina,” said Hagan. “I will continue to support initiatives that strike the right balance between protecting our farmers and our consumers.”