A Landmark Year in Review and a Look Toward the Future
By Don Wambles, FMC President 
Welcome to the Winter 2008 edition of the online newsletter for the Farmers 
Market Coalition. This newsletter is only one of the changes you’ll be noticing as we move forward into 2008. As we close the book on 2007, I would like to highlight a few of the FMC’s accomplishments.
On October 23rd, the Internal Revenue Service approved FMC’s application for a 501(c)(3) organization. This process actually began in June of 2006, when the FMC filed for non-profit status just after its incorporation.
After a nationwide search, the FMC Board contracted with Stacy Miller for part time services as executive secretary. Stacy will be handle the daily operations of the FMC as well as be responsible for member outreach, best practices documentation, program development and other duties.
The FMC participated in the USDA/AMS sponsored National Farmers Market Summit in November. This national gathering, the first of its kind, was designed to identify priorities, strategies and roles to achieve a national consensus for farmers markets. There was agreement among the 76 participants that a national organization (i.e. the Farmers Market Coalition) was needed to educate and inform consumers, as well and to provide tools for farmers, market managers and market organizers. Final proceedings from the Summit will be published in early 2008.
We have worked very closely with the National Association of Farmers Market Nutrition Programs (NAFMNP) to educate members of Congress about the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) and its positive effect on the physical, nutritional and economic health of rural communities and the success and benefits of the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP). Along with the success of both programs comes the reality that they could be so much more if funded appropriately. At the present time, the Farm Bill has been adopted by both Houses of Congress. However, the House and Senate versions differ significantly; a Conference Committee has the task of reconciling the differences between the two before final passage. Based on reports from the National Association of Farmers Market Nutrition Programs, the SFMNP needs funding of $25 million for 2008, $30 million for 2009, $35 million for 2010, $40 million for 2011 and $50 million for 2012.
The House version only provides level funding of the SFMNP at $15 million annually for the life of the Bill (2008-2012). However, the Bill does ‘authorize’ $20 M for 2008, $30 M for 2009, $45 M for 2010, $60 M for 2011 and $75 M for 2012. Sound good? Not yet. The word ‘authorize’ does not appropriate one dollar. It only authorizes that monies can be expended. The FMPP is funded at $5 million annually in years 2008-2010 and at $10 M annually for years 2011-2012 for a total funding of $35 million.
The Senate version of the Farm Bill funds the SFMNP at $25 million annually for the life of the Bill (2008-2012). Though much better than the House version, this is still $50 million short of meeting needs. The Senate also provides additional funding for the FMPP as follows: $5 million annually (2008-2011) and $10 million for 2012 totaling $30 million. The Conference Committee needs to adopt the Senate version of the SFMNP funding and make the necessary authorized funding from the House version mandatory to meet the needs as documented by the NAFMNP.
As we all stay tuned to the Farm Bill and its implications, please accept our warmest wishes for a wonderful 2008!