BROWN ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $265,000 TO EXPAND FARMERS MARKET IN CLEVELAND

Press Release

Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) has awarded a $265,925 grant to the North Union Farmers Market in Cleveland. The funds will be used to support Northeast Ohio's farmers by strengthening their business planning, climate resilient land-use practices, and technical capacity to develop a more accessible local food system. This will also create a farmer education pilot program called Time to Grow, to bring together issue experts and help farmers expand their technical skills.

"We should support farmers across Northeast Ohio by helping them grow their bottom lines so they can sell more products locally," said Brown. "Not only does this provide critical access to healthy, local fruits and vegetables and other nutritious foods, but it will also help family farmers to develop important local markets and expand business opportunities."

This funding is made possible through the USDA's Local Agriculture Marketing Program (LAMP) which Brown helped secure in the 2018 Farm Bill. LAMP helps fund farmers markets, local food systems, and the popular Value Added Producer grant program and other local food programs that help farmers sell their products and expand their businesses.

FMPP works to increase access and consumption of locally produced products by developing, improving and expanding outreach, training and technical assistance to domestic farmers markets and other community-supported agriculture programs.

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