Gluesenkamp Perez Helps Secure $100,000 to Support Local Growers at the Vancouver Farmers Market

Today, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) announced she helped secure a $100,000 grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) for the Vancouver Farmers Market to promote local farmers and help patrons make informed purchasing decisions for fresh produce.

The funds will support Southwest Washington family farms by promoting information about local farmers, growing practices, and where food is being grown. The grant will also support a farm finder tool to help community members locate nearby growers they would like to support. In August, Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez wrote to the Department of Agriculture in support of the project.

“By supporting local, multi-generational family farms, we can challenge consolidation in our food system and bring down the costs at grocery stores across Southwest Washington,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “A core mission of farmers markets is to support our local growers – and these funds will help folks know where their food comes from, how it was grown, and put a face and name to the incredibly skilled farmers in their communities. At a time when 40 percent of our fresh fruits and vegetables are imported, it’s especially important that we can make informed decisions and find local growers we’d like to support with our hard-earned dollars.”

“The Vancouver Farmers Market Association is thrilled to be able to bring this funding into our community to increase the economic viability of peri-urban farmland and create strong regional food systems,” said Stephanie Clark, Vancouver Farmers Market Director of Partnerships and Programs. “This is our organization’s first time receiving an FMPP grant award and we are grateful for our supporters including Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, WSU Extension Clark County, Friends of Clark County, and our Clark County farmers.” 

Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez recently introduced the HOMEGROWN Soil Health Act to support small, generational farm ownership and the local production of specialty crops. 

The Congresswoman also introduced the bipartisan Farmland Security Act to increase oversight of foreign ownership of American farmland, the PACA Act to help producers improve soil health and build extreme weather resilience, and the Agricultural Right to Repair Act to ensure farmers can repair their equipment where, how, and when they want.

An interactive map of community investments supported by Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez can be found at gluesenkampperez.house.gov/invest.