| |
| |
Farmer Feature: C&N Farms, LLC | |
| |
| |
Our team often shares updates with one another about a farm or farmers market that we've worked with to receive SNAP/EBT equipment doing great things "in the wild". Those moments are precious to us and we think you'd appreciate them as well. Each month, we will feature a farm or farmers market that has received technical assistance or SNAP/EBT equipment from us through our newsletters and social media platforms.
This month, we're sharing the work of C&N Farms, LLC from McDonough County, Illinois. Chris and Nici grew up working on their grandparents' farms and have continued that legacy by providing high-quality all-natural grass-fed and grain-finished beef and pasture-raised pork.
Here is their testimony about the farm's work in providing quality meats at an affordable price:
| |
"It is important for us to know where our food comes from and what goes into making our food. We raise all the livestock on our farm and sell retail cuts of meat at local Farmers’ Markets. Our goal is to keep prices at an affordable rate for all families. People are not expecting us to accept SNAP/EBT and are pleasantly surprised to find out we do accept it.
Thank you for making it possible for us to reach all families despite their economic status."
| |
Thank you Chris and Nici for what you do!
If you received SNAP/EBT equipment from us and want to share your story as well, please send photos and stories to news@marketlink.org or send us an email to schedule an interview.
To be featured, please send us the following:
- 1-5 photos of your farm and/or market
- A few sentences about what you are up to and how you've benefited from the equipment.
| |
| |
| |
USDA published a press release last month regarding their increased support for nutrition programs to combat food insecurity and to strengthen the nation's food system resiliency.
The article also mentioned their cooperative agreement with the
National Association of Farmers Market Nutrition Programs to support the local economy by supporting farmers to accept SNAP benefits online.
Stacy Dean, Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services stated, “A strong and resilient supply chain is critical to our ability to deliver federal food assistance to millions of Americans."
Did you get a chance to read our press release about our Online SNAP program? Click here to read the full press release. | |
| |
| |
The National Association of Farmers' Market Nutrition Programs is a non-profit corporation founded in 1992. It is the nation's only organization that links States, the District of Columbia, Indian Tribal Organizations, Territories, and others with a stake in USDA's Farmers' Market Nutrition Programs with a shared mission to increase the amount of fresh produce purchased from local growers. Through the Association, both voting and associate members have representation on key legislative and regulatory issues, as well as networking and educational opportunities at the annual conference and through board and committee involvement. Members also receive access to our on-line membership directory and receive the NAFMNP newsletter. Join the NAFMNP community and have your voices heard when it comes to decisions that would impact the financial future of family farmers.
| |
| |
| |
CISA Webinar: How to Accept SNAP and WIC/Senior Coupons
February 15, 2022 , 1 - 2:30 pm (EST)
If you are located in Massachusetts, join MarketLink for the first session of the CISA (Community Involved in Sustainable Agriculture) webinar series focusing on local good accessibility in MA.
Attendees will come away with an understanding of how to set up SNAP at their business, their options for getting SNAP processing equipment, how to accept WIC and Senior coupons, and who to ask for help when they go through these application processes. Attendees will also come away with a step-by-step list of how to accept SNAP and coupons at their business plus a contact list of relevant people they can ask questions along the way.
Cost to attend is free but only open to those located in Massachusetts. | |
Illinois Certified Farmers Market Manager Course
February 28 from 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm CT
MarketLink will be presenting on Monday, February 28th from 6:00-7:00 pm for The Certified Farmers Market Manger Program to Illinois farmers market managers. The interactive program, consisting of Zoom and Google Classroom, will address real-world market issues and train market managers in best practices for successful farmers markets.
| |
| |
| |
| |
Request for Qualifications Farmers Market e-Incentive Information Technology Coordinator
The coordinator will work with Maryland Market Money staff and grant partners, FRESHFARM and Crossroads Community Food Network, to coordinate and implement the e-incentives pilot which will transition the MMM token economy at farmers markets to an app-based digital wallet available to shoppers on their smart devices, as well as an app-based SNAP and e-incentive processing capability for farmers market vendors. In addition to assessing project needs and evaluating current capacity to meet the needs, the contractor will assist the MMM staff in prioritizing those needs and providing on-site training and troubleshooting support for farmers market managers, farmer/vendors, and shoppers.
RFQ Deadline: February 28, 2022 at 5:00 pm Send RFQ responses to Heather Hulsey, MMM Program Manager Southern for the Maryland Agricultural Development Commission at hhulsey@smadc.com
Click here for more information. | |
| |
| |
Meet Lisa! Lisa's interest in food and agriculture stemmed from visiting her grandparent's farm in rural Germany during the summer, helping her parents garden, and cooking with her family. This upbringing led her to pursue an education in food systems at San Francisco State University where she majored in Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in Nutrition.
| | | |
Lisa is delighted to be part of the NAFMNP team - as a MarketLink Regional Representative. Her favorite part of the job is her phone calls with individuals who reach out for technical assistance. She loves being able to connect to farmers and market managers throughout the country and hear from their perspectives.
Outside of MarketLink, Lisa does her best to support local food by shopping at the Alemany Farmers Market in San Francisco; California’s first official farmers’ market. In her free time, she’s usually biking, hiking through local parks, cooking at home, visiting friends, or working on many unfinished art projects. | |
| |
| |
| |
MarketLink is a program of the National Association of Farmers Markets Nutrition Programs (NAFMNP).
©2022 MarketLink
| |
| |
| |
.png)
.png)
