FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net 

Tel. 347.563.6408

Comment: NSAC Praises Introduction of the Enabling Farmers to Benefit from Processing Nutrition Programs Act of 2023

Washington, DC, July 26, 2023 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) issued the following comment, attributable to Hannah Quigley, NSAC Policy Specialist, in response to the introduction of the Enabling Farmers to Benefit from Processing Nutrition Programs Act of 2023 by Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), John Fetterman (D-PA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Representatives Hillary Scholten (D-MI-3), Dean Phillips (D-MN-3), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-6), Juan Vargas (D-CA-52), Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13), Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ-10), Jill Tokuda (D-HI-2), and Jahana Hayes (D-CT-5).

“The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) applauds the introduction of the Enabling Farmers to Benefit from Processing Nutrition Programs Act, which takes significant steps to increase opportunities for local farmers to benefit from nutrition benefits. Creating a centralized application process will reduce burdensome paperwork for farmers. Providing adequate mobile equipment will increase the utilization of federal nutrition benefits in local markets. The reforms offered in the bill will promote access to healthy and fresh products while generating economic impact in local food economies.” 

The Enabling Farmers to Benefit from Processing Nutrition Programs Act makes essential reforms to modernize federal nutrition programs to ensure utilization among farmers and in local markets. The bill establishes a streamlined application process for farmers and producers so that when a farmer submits application materials to accept supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits, they will be considered for other nutrition programs, such as Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, and the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program. The bill goes further to encourage acceptance of SNAP in farmers markets and other direct-to-consumer markets by ensuring wireless or mobile processing equipment and technology are readily available in existing State agency programs. 

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About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more and get involved at: https://sustainableagriculture.net