Strengthening our Farmers' Markets
Yesterday the House of Representatives passed HB 6385, a measure I co-sponsored in the Environment Committee to strengthen our farmers’ markets and make fresh grown nutritious food more affordable for pregnant mothers on WIC, and seniors.
It increases the value of the farmers’ market nutrition programs’ vouchers to at least $20 (currently they are $15 for WIC and $18 for seniors) and adds eggs to the voucher program and allows participants of the Connecticut farmers’ market WIC nutrition program to have a proxy pick-up and redeem program vouchers.
The bill also expands the purposes of DoAg’s farm viability matching grant program to include “the development of urban and nontraditional farming practices.” Farm viability grants are available to nonprofit agricultural organizations, municipalities, groups of municipalities, and regional councils of government.
The effects of COVID-19 on Connecticut's economy were uneven. Strengthening our farmers' markets and bringing fresh produce and eggs to needy families is an important step in improving health and economic fairness in Connecticut.