Tell Governor DeWine to Support Farmers, Markets, and Food Access During
COVID-19
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*Tell Governor DeWine to Support Farmers, Markets, and Food Access During
COVID-19*
<https://default.salsalabs.org/Te18fa8cb-596f-4250-b82e-7526ca99e0da/5f50a68e-fb05-48f8-9720-7742ec105ee0>
The COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing—necessary to contain the spread
of the virus—are having far-reaching repercussions on Ohio’s food and farm
system.
They have resulted in lost and disrupted income for direct-market farmers,
who already operate without the safety nets available to commodity farmers.
Farmers’ market modifications, including pre-ordering and drive thru
systems, have strained an already understaffed and underfunded farmers’
market system. And, many of Ohio’s most vulnerable residents have had their
access to much-needed healthy, local food limited by market closures and
restrictions on online sales.
[image: #LocalFoodisEssential]
*Contact Ohio Governor Mike DeWine now*
<https://default.salsalabs.org/T11b03bc5-63ac-4ec7-8f23-91d8410a35ff/5f50a68e-fb05-48f8-9720-7742ec105ee0>
*and
tell him to act immediately to make sure small and mid-size farmers,
farmers’ markets, and families who rely on nutrition assistance don’t fall
through the cracks, as we adapt to this crisis. We need a vibrant and just
local food system now more than ever.*
OEFFA, Produce Perks Midwest, the Ohio Farmers’ Market Network, the Ohio
Food Policy Network, Summit Food Coalition, Countryside, and others are
championing six important policies
<https://default.salsalabs.org/T451c8547-2cd9-40a9-b27d-1b54f39d8201/5f50a68e-fb05-48f8-9720-7742ec105ee0>
that
will help keep family farms in business, farmers’ markets open, and Ohio’s
families fed:
1. In cooperation with OFMN and others, the Ohio Department of
Agriculture should swiftly issue operational guidance to farmers markets,
as well as other direct market agricultural outlets, and provide resources
to help them implement necessary changes, including sanitation supplies.
2. The state should develop or expand buy-up programs, such as the Ohio
Agricultural Clearance Program, and pay farmers a fair price for produce,
meat, and poultry items that have lost market venues and distribute them to
the emergency food system.
3. The state should expand upon and increase opportunities for use of
public assistance benefits with online food purchasing and delivery
options, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and the Women, Infants, and
Children (WIC) supplemental nutrition program.
4. The state should support the immediate expansion of Produce Perks to
serve rapidly growing vulnerable populations, including individuals and
households receiving unemployment benefits.
5. The state should provide incentives and assistance for alternative
sales methods such as on-line ordering platforms, curbside pick-up at
farmers’ markets, or relocating to larger public spaces in order to reduce
handling at markets and promote social distancing.
6. The Ohio Department of Commerce should include farmers selling to
direct food outlets, schools, restaurants, food hubs, and produce auctions
in aid packages for small businesses negatively affected by the COVID-19
crisis.
*Please use this form
<https://default.salsalabs.org/Tcef59eb5-e8ab-46da-acdb-4224d0b08c0b/5f50a68e-fb05-48f8-9720-7742ec105ee0>
to easily send a quick message asking Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to act on
these recommendations now.*
<https://default.salsalabs.org/Taffc1066-d569-4eb3-b8ba-4037841cfcfd/5f50a68e-fb05-48f8-9720-7742ec105ee0>
*Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association*
41 Croswell Rd. | Columbus, Ohio 43214
(614) 421-2022 | oeffa@xxxxxxxxx
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*Ariel Miller*, Chair
<http://www.fclocalfoodcouncil.org/>
www.fclocalfoodcouncil.org
Find us on Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/groups/fcolfc/>
