Access, Community, Resilience: Alaska Farmers Market Association’s path to Improve Food Access
As the thrush returns to the treetops, winter lingers, spring buds wait their turn to bloom. Growing season has been planned and summer harvests are ahead. The first Farmers Market of the season is around the corner and there are programs in store to improve community access to local foods. Alaska Farmers Market Association has been granted funds to support a number of food access programs at Farmers Markets and Farm Stands across the State.
Courtesy of a grant, allocated by the 2022 Alaska State Legislature, and coordinated by the State Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, AFMA has received funds to grow a Market Match program boosting SNAP customers' dollars for more farm fresh purchases. AFMA’s Market Match program provides Farmers Markets and Farms Stands with support to match SNAP customers' purchases up to $40. Meaning for every Quest dollar spent at the market AFMA provides an additional dollar(up to $40). Additionally, Market Match will support WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) customers through a 15-dollar voucher boost. WIC customers and Farmers who accept WIC FMNP Vouchers will see an increase of $15 this market season. Market Match intends to support local families, farmers, and build food security at markets this summer.
In conjunction with the Market Match program, AFMA is launching a Local Food Box program with support from the United State Department of Agriculture’s and the State Division of Agriculture’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Program. The Local Food Box program will support Farmers, Food Banks, Pantries, and other Anti-Hunger agencies through a “Farm to Community” like program. AFMA will work with Farmers Markets and Farm Stands to organize the purchase and distribution of Local Food Boxes to community anti-hunger agencies. Local Food Boxes will be purchased at full market price from Farmers and given to the anti-hunger agencies for free. This initiative aims to support the growth of local food and improve food security throughout the state.
Local Food resilience is the foundation of our Farmers Markets. To support these programs visit your local farmers market or farmer this summer. To get involved in these programs reach out to Claire Marshalek at foodaccess@alaskafarmersmarkets.org
The Alaska Food Policy Council is providing administrative support for these projects.
