In 2024, New Yorkers made over 400,000 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) transactions at farmers’ markets through the State’s FreshConnect Program, generating more than $10 million in revenue for participating farmers. While those are certainly impressive numbers, the SNAP program faces harmful cuts – driven by a new budget reconciliation bill – that threaten food access. These cuts would disproportionately impact children and seniors, and would further weaken the local economy by diminishing sales for thousands of retailers, including farmers’ markets and farm stands.
Further protecting New York’s agricultural industries and vulnerable families, Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that more than $1.12 million has been awarded to 25 farmers’ market organizations statewide. This funding – an increase of more than $870,000 over last year’s awards – is intended to enhance infrastructure, reach more consumers, and advance a resilient food supply chain.
As part of the statewide funding, Providence Farm Collective (PFC) has been awarded $50,000 through Round 3 of New York State’s Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grant Program. This funding will help to ensure that immigrants and refugees in WNY have continued access to the farming resources that they require to sustain themselves (learn more). At the same time, at-risk communities will have access to locally grown, healthy foods that might not otherwise be available.
In 2023, Providence Farm Collective (PFC) farmers sold $22,636 of locally grown vegetables to under-resourced customers thanks to efforts such as the Grant Street farmers’ market, known as the PFC Farmers Market.
“Our farmers’ markets are some of our greatest assets in getting healthy, fresh, New York-grown food directly into the communities who need them most,” Governor Hochul said. “I’m proud to continue investing in these essential cornerstones of community that not only make a difference to our most vulnerable residents, but are also connecting our hardworking New York farmers to new markets. I congratulate the awardees of this program’s funding and look forward to seeing how much you continue to grow.”
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball said, “Our farmers’ markets are critical community hubs, bridging the gap between urban, suburban, and rural communities, all while providing a market for New York agricultural producers. This program ensures our markets reach more consumers in new, innovative ways, build greater bonds between farmers and their customers, and get more local New York foods onto tables across the state, especially in our underserved communities through critical services like SNAP. I congratulate all the awardees of this program and look forward to seeing all the great work they will do with this funding in the years to come.”
“Farmers markets meet the needs of the communities they serve. In the case of the PFC International Farmers Market, it was created by PFC farmers for their neighbors and community members who live on Buffalo’s West Side,” said Markets Manager Loc Tran. “This grant supports expanding our outreach through marketing efforts to bring greater awareness for our Western New York community. We are beyond grateful that the State is investing in our food system.”
Get connected: providencefarmcollective.org